The Sharjah Women Sports Department celebrated Emirati Women's Day last week at Sharjah Ladies Club. The occasion, which occurs on the 28th of August of each year, was decreed upon an initiative from The Mother of the UAE, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood. This initiative aims to honor Emirati women for their great contributions in the UAE development and to recognize their capabilities and efforts towards achieving great benefits for women and the UAE in general.Held at the SLC premises in Sharjah, the celebration included a number of sports and entertainment activities, while paying special tribute to athletes Sarah Issa and Rouqaya Ali who have both recently joined the ranks of the national service. This symbolic gesture by the Women Sports Department comes in recognition of the patriotic spirit that these athletes have shown, and their determination to take part in protecting the nation.
Nada Askar Al Naqbi, Head of the Women Sports Department at Sharjah Ladies Club, said on this occasion: "In accordance with the guidance and directions graciously extended by the wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, HH SheikhaJawaherBint Mohammed Al-Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Ladies Club, we are always working on reflecting the great achievements of Emirati women, and on enhancing their mission as man’s strategicstrategic partner in the march towards a better future. Through this celebration, we aimed to shed some light on our athletes who responded to the duty call and joined the ranks of the national service, despite the fact that they are not required to do so by the law, which proves the great patriotism spirit they enjoy, and the even greater love and devotion they carry for our beloved country.""This event signifies a token of appreciation from us to the great contributions achieved by Emirati women in all domains, especially sports. We also would like to show our admiration to those women who joined the ranks of the UAE Army, for their heroism and patriotism in a field where Emirati women have proven a laudable sense of responsibility."
The celebration was held during the open day for shooting sport, which included six hours at the shooting range at Sharjah Ladies Club. Equipped with the latest tools and techniques, SLC players exhibited excellent skills in this sport.For their part, Sarah Issa and Rouqaya Ali, the two honored athletes, expressed their appreciation for this gesture, which coincided with an important occasion for them:the Emirati Women's Day. The two athletes said that this gesture reflects how keen the Women Sports Department at Sharjah Ladies Club is on recognizing every effort that demonstrates patriotism and loyalty to the homeland. They also expressed their love and appreciation for HH SheikhaJawaherBint Mohammed Al-Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, Chairperson of Sharjah Ladies Club, for her great efforts in supporting and promoting women’s sports in the UAE and Sharjah in particular.
About the Women Sport Department: HH SheikhaJawaherBint Mohammed Al-Qasimi,Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and the wife of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, issued a decree in 2008 establishing the Women Sports Department in Sharjah, the first ever department in Sharjah to focus solely on women’s sports. The department aims at achieving high standards in women’s sports, and gaining high rankings on local and international stages.