Jordanian sportswomen are determined to settle for no less than gold at the fifth edition of the Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST), organised by Sharjah Women’s Sports (SWS), which runs from February 2-12, 2020, in Sharjah as is hosting 78 clubs from 18 Arab nations. Returning to Sharjah, the Fuheis Youth Club are aiming to secure the top spot in basketball after losing the final game by 1 point in the previous edition of AWST, while the newcomer De La Salle Club are geared up to prove their mettele in volleyball. Hamada Sports Club will be competiting in table tennis, while Al Aryan Equestrian Club will be representing Jordan in the tournament’s show jumping category. Saqr Quraish Club’s martial artists are eager to clinch gold in karate.Commenting on Fuheis Youth Club’s participation, club’s president Ayman Samawi said: “AWST has had a significant impact on enhancing the Arab women’s sports landscape, since its first edition. It is the largest professional platform the region’s sportswomen, and has enabled us to compete with our counterparts. The tournament message is that women’s sports is equally important.” Samawi thanked AWST’s organisers offering Arab sportswomen from 18 nations on the region yet another opportunity to demonstrate their skill and compete in a world-class environment. The Club’s coach Faisal Al Nsoor added: “Over the years, AWST has crossed many milestones, honing the talents and capabilities of athletes across the Arab world, by providing them this prestigious competitions platform. AWST has offered the region’s sportswomen a major impetus to continue perfecting their game, and gain more expertise in their respective sporting disciplines. The more games against tough opponents they play, the more agility and experience they gain.”For his part, assistant coach, Nayef Asfour said: “We are well prepared for AWST. Our team is coming into the tournament feeling confident after their big win in the Jordanian leagues last week. Three new players have joined our ranks forAWST, which is the strongest tournament of its kind.”The team is competiting without their captain Rasha Abdo, he added, who is indisposed due to personal circumstances.
About the Arab Women Sports Tournament
Held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Sharjah Women Sports (SWS), the Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST), is organised by the Sharjah Women Sports (SWS) in partnership with the UAE Sports Council, Sharjah Sports Council and the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees.Launched in 2012, the bi-yearly Olympics-themed women sports tournament, hosts a number of women's sports clubs from more than 15 Arab nations to compete across 9 sports: Karate, Basketball, Volleyball, Fencing, Show Jumping, Shooting, Archery, Athletics and Table Tennis.In 2018, AWST hosted 67 women sports clubs from 16 Arab nations who competed across 9 games, and received media coverage from more than 380 outlets across the Arab region. The fifth edition of the tournament, which is scheduled to kick-start on February 2 - 12, 2020, will play a major role in building on the 5-year success of the AWST brand, and support the growth and development of the regional sports industry and women sports initiatives.