News DeskDubai: Emirati fencers delivered a promising start to their campaign at the 13th Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament, collecting a gold, silver and bronze medal in the fencing competition and setting the tone for the multi-sport event underway in Dubai.
Staged at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex under the theme “Limitless Capabilities,” the annual tournament is organised by the Dubai Sports Council and continues to stand as one of the region’s most anticipated sporting gatherings during the season.
The tournament is held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and follows the directives of Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council.
Leading the UAE charge was national team fencer Zainab Al Husseini, who demonstrated composure and class to secure gold in the women’s epee, overcoming Sarah Besbes 15-11 in a closely contested final. Fellow Emirati Rawda Al Aleeli added to the home celebrations with a bronze medal after defeating Lamar Al Nahla by the same margin in the third-place play-off.
In the men’s epee, Mohammed Al Mazmi captured silver following his final bout against Mohammad Rezaei Tadi, while Hassan Al Foudry secured bronze with a confident 13-9 victory over Alex Manrique.
The UAE’s strong overall showing was further underlined by Saleh Al Balushi finishing fifth, with Imran Al Balushi and Khalifa Al Zarouni also placing among the competition’s top eight.
Medals were presented by Engineer Sheikh Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the Asian and UAE Fencing Federations and Executive Committee member of the International Fencing Federation, alongside senior tournament and federation officials.
Sheikh Salem commended the tournament’s organisational and technical standards, describing it as a vital platform for evaluating athlete readiness and sharpening competitive performance ahead of international events. He highlighted the high-intensity nature of the matches, noting that such exposure accelerates development and converts experience into podium results.
He also reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to expanding participation, enhancing physical and technical preparation, and identifying emerging talent capable of strengthening national squads while sustaining the UAE’s progress in fencing across regional and global arenas.
Beyond fencing, the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament continues to offer a packed programme. The International Padel Federation competition will conclude on Sunday, followed by the Nad Al Sheba International Padel Championship for national teams from February 23 to 27, and the junior tournament from February 28 to March 5.
Cycling and badminton events are set to wrap up early in the week, while the Obstacle Course Race final is scheduled for February 24 alongside jiu-jitsu competitions on February 24 and 25. Road running will take centre stage on February 27.
The tournament’s popular 3×3 basketball competition will culminate on March 3, while wheelchair basketball currently underway at Dubai Club for People of Determination will progress to semi-finals on March 2 and the final on March 4.
Tug-of-war contests will begin on March 1 ahead of the March 6 final, and the much-followed volleyball tournament will run from February 26 to March 7, bringing the curtain down on another vibrant edition of the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament.
