Sports | Wednesday 14 February, 2018 7:52 am |

Egypt and Jordan made the basketball finals at the Arab Women Sports Tournament 2018 (AWST) every spectator’s dream with a match whose fate was decided by the difference of but one point.  Egypt’s Sporting Club bagged the gold, winning against Al Fuhays with a score of 63-62 points.

 

Organised by the Sharjah Women Sports Foundation (SWSF), under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of SWSF, AWST ran from February 2-12, 2018, and featured 1,000 female Arab athletes form 69 clubs representing 17 Arab countries, who competed in nine sporting disciplines that are part of the Olympics list.

 

In the midst of a celebratory spirit which filled the SWSF sports court, the closing ceremony also awarded the top 3 nations who secured the largest number of gold medals. Bahrain received first place for winning a total of 12 gold medals, Egypt came second with 9 gold medals and Algeria ranked third with 7 gold medals.

 

The winners were honoured by Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Head of AWST's Supreme Organising Committee; accompanied by Sheikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, Head of the AWST Supervisory Committee and member of Bahraini Olympic Committee; Ismail Al Gergawi, President of the UAE Basketball Association and Arab Basketball Association; HE Nada Askar Al Naqbi, Deputy Chairperson of AWST Supreme Organizing Committee, Head of its Executive Committee and Director General of SWSF; Khaled al Midfa, Secretary General of Authority for Youth and Sports; HE Marwan Al Shamsi, Director of Bee'ah; HE Abdul Latif Muhammad, Director of Public Relations at Etisalat; Colonel Ashour Bin Sabt Bin Ashour, Director of Special Task Department; HE Khalid Al Hussein, Director of the Sports Affairs Department at the General Authority of Youth and Sports.

 

Following the results of the final basketball match, the gold medal was presented to Egypt’s Sporting, silver medal to Jordan’s Al Fuhays and bronze medal to UAE’s Sharjah Sports Club.

 

Individual honours and recognitions followed. Menatuallah Muhammad from Sporting Club was awarded the lead scorer and all-rounder trophies, and Rana Nabeel from the same club won the best three-point scorer. Karima Karim from Sharjah Sports Club for Women won the point guard player award, while Rubie Henry from Al Fuyais claimed the best winger trophy.

 

After the coronation ceremony, the three Excellence Cups were given to winners. Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Qasimi announced that Sharjah Sports Club was the winner of the Sports Excellence Cup, and HE Nada Askar Al Naqbi, along the management administrative staff and players received the cup. Sheikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa announced Jeddah United Club as the winner of Committees Club for Fair Play, which was delivered to them by Abdulrahman Al-Masad, President of Saudi Arabian Basketball Federation. Al Naqbi presented the Sport Excellence Cup to National Security Sports Association Club from Algeria.

 

In a bid to honour everyone who contributed to the success of the tournament, the SOC of AWST felicitated the referees of the basketball finale, as well as the best cheering fan; Sharifa Muhammad from Bahrain.

 

Egypt replaces its third edition bronze with a sparkling gold in this edition

Sporting Club from Egypt had a strategy in place since the very first match of the tournament. They were at AWST to emerge as the basketball champions, a chance they missed marginally in the third edition of AWST in 2016, as they took home the bronze.

 

This edition was different as they not only won the basketball finale, but also remained undefeated throughout the tournament.

 

Despite winning the first period with a score of 17-12, Sporting lost the second period to Jordan’s Al Fuhays with a score of 22-11. The third period saw a ferocious battle between the clubs that ended in a 17-17 draw. The fourth and final period saw a critical turn of events and Sporting were able to level and win with a score of 18-11, winning the match with a single-point difference 63-62.

 

The exceptional performance of Menatuallah Muhammad, who scored 28 points, and Asrar Majed who scored the winning basket, played a vital role in Egypt’s victory.

 

Through Egypt’s three participations in AWST, they have claimed the basketball title for the first time. Sharjah Sports Club, hosts and winners of the previous edition, finished in third place in AWST 2018.