23 August 2024
Strong Start for the First Edition of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Academy GCC Basketball Cup for Ladies
Large Audience at the Opening Round of the Cup
High-Level Performance by Gulf Teams at the Tournament's Kickoff
Abu Dhabi, UAE:
First Edition of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Academy GCC Basketball Cup for Ladies
has commenced Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation "Mother of the Nation" and under the directives of Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy and Chairwoman of Abu Dhabi ladies Club and Al Ain Ladies Club. The competition will run until August 26, featuring four Gulf teams. The games are being held at the new headquarters of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy amidst a vibrant atmosphere and a large audience.
The opening ceremony included a variety of segments showcasing Gulf unity and celebrating efforts to support women's sports through an ambitious Emirati vision. The event was attended by members of the Board of Directors of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, including His Excellency Talal Al Hashimi and Ms. Shamsa Al Hennai, along with representatives from the participating Arab countries' federations, a large number of officials, and local and Arab media.
In the opening matches, the Kuwaiti team Al-Qurain defeated Al-Gharafa with a score of 72-51, while the Omani team Salalah won against the Fatima bint Mubarak Academy team with a score of 38-22. The tournament continues today, Friday, with two matches: Al-Qurain will face the Fatima bint Mubarak Academy team, and Salalah will play against Al-Gharafa. On Saturday, Salalah will compete against Al-Qurain at 5:00 PM, followed by a match between Al-Gharafa and the Academy team at 7:00 PM. Based on the standings, the semi-finals will take place on Sunday, with the first-place team facing the fourth-place team and the second-place team against the third-place team. The final will be held on Monday, featuring the winners of the semi-final matches.
Regarding the tournament's opening, Abdullah Al Tamimi, a representative of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, said: "We are extremely pleased with the strong start from the participating teams in the opening matches. The aspirations for our academy team, which has won the UAE League title and is performing well internationally, remain high. Our goal is to honor the United Arab Emirates and highlight the impressive image of women's sports, reflecting the unlimited support that Emirati girls receive from the wise leadership and its directives, which we see in practice with this unique sports facility for women in the country, and this distinguished event on the Gulf level."
He added: "We are determined to deliver our best in every match. Our goal is to continue competing fiercely, and the levels displayed by all the participating teams in the opening round lead us to anticipate a highly competitive tournament with high standards. We also renew our invitation to the audience to attend and experience the atmosphere of the event in the stands."
Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy team player, Mashail Al Marzouqi, stated: "I am very proud that the UAE is hosting such a significant Gulf tournament for the first time. The competition is very strong, and every team is giving its all. We are determined to put in our best effort and work as a team. We believe in our abilities and look forward to delivering an outstanding performance in the upcoming matches."