Her Highness Sheikha Jawaherbint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, met with the athletes from the Sharjah Ladies Club (SLC) recently who will be competing in the 3rd Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST 2016) being held from 2 to 12 February. The meeting took place in order for Her Highness to encourage and motivate the players to achieve their best in what has become one of the major sporting events in the region. Her Highness SheikhaJawaher Al Qasimicalled on the Emirati players to prove themselves and raise the UAEflag high in the eight sportscompetitionswhich will be hosted by Sharjah. Her Highness said that the event is a great opportunity for them to demonstrate their ability to represent the Emirate of Sharjah and the UAE in amajor Arab and regional tournament that has 17 Arab nations participating.
Her Highness stressed the importance of participating in thetournament andadded that these competitions will give the players a chance to gain the necessary experience before competing in regionaland international tournaments.Her Highness SheikhaJawaher Al Qasimi called on the players to enjoy good sportsmanship and develop a team spiritwith players from otherArab countries.Her Highness said that the Emirati players are a source of pride for the countryand that they represent the future of women's sports in Sharjah and the UAE. She expressed her confidence that they will win competitions. Athletes from the SLC will participate in all the eight games included in AWST, which are, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, archery, fencing, shooting, athletics, and show jumping. The athletesthanked Her Highness for generously meeting them and encouraging them before the tournament, promising to do their best to win. They also thanked Her Highnessforher support ofwomen's sports in the UAE and the Arab world in general, acknowledging that the success of the first two AWST editionsand the developments made before the launch of the third edition, were due to her patronage of the event.
Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST):
AWST is hosted by Sharjah every two years under the patronage of Her Highness SheikhaJawaherbint Mohammed Al Qasimi. Following the success of Gulf Countries Competition (GCC), a sports competition organised by the Sharjah Ladies Club, Her Highness SheikhaJawaher Al Qasimi established the Women Sports Department in 2008 and opened the GCC to all Arab countries in order to raise the profile of women's sports in the region. The tournament is the first of its kind in the Arab World and was launched in 2012. Contestants participate in eight games including basketball, volleyball, table tennis, fencing, archery, shooting, athletics and show jumping.
AWST – Sharjah 2016 Sponsors:
The Arab Women's Sports Tournament enjoys the support of several leading organizations in the UAE, including the Platinum Sponsor, Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat), the Golden Sponsor, International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), and four Bronze Sponsors: Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority; Golf and Shooting Club Sharjah; Sharjah International Airport and Al Jawaher Reception & Convention Centre. Sharjah Media Corporation is the tournament’s strategic media sponsor, the media sponsors are National Network Communications and Dar Al Khaleej Printing & Publishing. Presenting Media Sponsor is Sharjah Media. Fast Building Contracting Company is the strategic sponsor of SLC’s sports teams, Air Arabia is the official airline, Sharjah Sports TV is the official television channel and the official contractor for hospitality services, Kunooz Events & Catering with the supporting sponsor, Zalal.