• American Isaiah Thomas and Russian Alisa Petrova crowned champions of the Obstacle Course Challenge race

• Women's competitions conclude in the Laser Run Shooting Championship

• Wheelchair Basketball witnesses strong competitions

Photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11pljwIC5Uy8SkhZtCv0qt7CRzUUk0iZx?usp=drive_link

DUBAI: The next nine days will ensure the 12th Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament takes a step upward as the volleyball championship starts from 9pm on Wednesday night (March 12).

This year's volleyball tournament has brought together an elite group of international stars from the world's most prominent clubs, and these will be competing for the crown over the next nine days at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex, as part of the 12th Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament, the largest sporting event of its kind, launched and sponsored by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council.

Held annually during the holy month of Ramadan at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex, under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, under the slogan 'Unlimited Abilities, this year's volleyball competition will commence with two matches, with Zabeel starting the defence of their crown against Al Tadawi 1 at 9pm. This will be followed by the second match, where last year's third place finishers The Emperor will meet The King at 11 pm.

The matches from second group will be held on Thursday with Al Hilal taking on Al Samawi at 9pm, followed by the match between last year's runners-up Fahoud Zabeel and Al Tadawi 2

At the end of the draw ceremony held earlier, the eight participating teams were placed in two groups with the first group comprising of Zabeel, Al Tadawi 1, The King and The Emperor, while the second group includes Fahoud Zabeel, Al Tadawi 2, Al Samawi and Al Hilal.

The tournament will adhere to a simple format of a round-robin system followed by the top two teams in each group qualifying for the knockout semi-finals.

The volleyball tournament has attracted players from different nationalities, who are among the most prominent stars of the game at various clubs and teams on the international scene. Participation from such high-level players not only enriches the competition due to superior technical performances, but also gives players from the UAE the opportunity to interact and compete with the best players and gain vital experience that can be passed on in future tournaments with their clubs and national teams.

Thomas, Petrova win Obstacle Challenge Race

Isaiah Thomas and Alisa Petrova, both representing the Dubai Police, claimed top honours in the men's and women's competitions of the Obstacle Challenge Championship that concluded the previous evening.

Some of the strongest and most fit participants challenged the time factor to overcome the most difficult obstacles with participants racing over eleven obstacles placed over a distance of 400 metres in the quickest possible time.

Hassan Al Mazrouei, the tournament director, crowned American Isaiah Thomas and Russian Alisa Petrova after both athletes had come up with excellent times in the men's and women's categories.

Thomas was timed at 1.57 minutes after completing all eleven obstacles over the 400-metre distance, while defending champion Khaidukov came up with a strong finish of 2.01 minutes to end in second place, leaving Frenchman Robin Chapardes in third place with a time of 2.14 minutes.

In the women's competition, Russia's Alisa Petrova was crowned as the best after she had completed the course with a time of 2.40 minutes, followed by the Denmark's Henriette Bardrum from Dubai Police (2.52 minutes), while fellow Dane and last year's champion Ida Mathilde Rubens Stensgaard had to stay content with third place in a time of 3 minutes.

Shooting and Running competition

The women's competitions in the Shooting and Running Championship (Laser Run) concluded on Monday evening, and the winners were crowned by Her Excellency Huda Al Matroushi, President of the UAE Modern Pentathlon Federation, in the company of Adel Al Bannai, Head of the Technical Committee of the tournament.

The competitions resulted in the Egyptian Jouriya Ahmed Hassanein winning first place in the under-15 category after completing the race in 3.02 minutes, followed by the Emirati Asmaa Saeed Khamis Al Suwaidi in second place with a time of 3.14 minutes, and the Emirati Latifa Al Falasi came in third place with a time of 3.40 minutes.

In the under-17 category, Emirati Ruqayya Mohammed Al Marzouqi won first place with a time of 9.17 minutes, followed by Emirati Shamsa Al Qasimi in second place with a time of 10.10 minutes, while Emirati Amna Khalid Al Naqbi came in third place with a time of 10.52 minutes.

Emirati Judy Mahmoud Al Othman won the title of the youngest competitor in the championship at the age of 11, and she became an instant rave after finishing the race in a commendable time of 3.49 minutes.

The results of the Masters over-30 category competitions resulted in Emirati Maryam Khamis Obaid Al Kaabi winning first place in 5.40 minutes, followed by Emirati Fatima Al Balushi in second place (5.57 minutes), while Emirati Iman Musa Al Kindi came in third place (6.18 minutes).

In the Masters over-40 category, it was Emirati Omaima Al Balooshi all the way to the gold medal with a time of 5.46 minutes, followed by Amal Al Sayegh (6.04 minutes), while Frenchwoman Latifa Al Sarooq came in third place (6.17 minutes).

Her Excellency Huda Al Matroushi, President of the UAE Modern Pentathlon Federation, praised the organisational procedures of the tournament and the wonderful atmosphere at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament.

'We are happy to participate for the first time in the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament. This is such a pioneering initiative launched and sponsored by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council. I thank the Dubai Sports Council and the organising Committee for giving this unique opportunity to participate for the first time in this event that is bound to contribute significantly to promoting this Olympic sport and increasing its popularity and spread among our young men and women,' Her Excellency Huda Al Matroushi, noted.

'I am very proud of the wide participation of male and female players. The number of male and female players is excellent, especially since the tournament is being held for the first time. I would also like to thank the Organising Committee for this more than wonderful organisation, precise procedures, distinguished venue and privacy provided for the tournament. I expect the tournament to achieve greater success in the coming years and I wish success to all participants,' she added.

Wheelchair Basketball

The Wheelchair Basketball Championship, whose qualifiers are being held at the Dubai Club for People of Determination, continues with the participation of 10 teams.

The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai got the better of People of Determination 24-10, while Dubai Police beat the Department of Finance 22-17. The Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services team won against the Community Development Authority 22-8 and the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai hung on to win 31-21 against Dubai Courts.

At the end of two matche, Dubai Police is at the top of the first group having won both their matches for 4 points, followed by the Roads and Transport Authority, Department of Finance and Dubai Courts.

In the second group, the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services team is at the top with 4 points, followed by the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, Dubai Municipality, Al Hemmam and the Community Development Authority.

Image captions:

• Huda Al Matrooshi and Adel Al Bannai crown the winners of the Shooting and Running Championship (Laser Run) for women

• Hassan Al Mazrouei crowns the winners of the Obstacle Challenge Race

• Strong competition in the Shooting and Running Championship