Al Tadawi to take on Yaazar for volleyball title at 13th Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament

DUBAI: Al Tadawi and Yaazar will go head-to-head in the final of the volleyball competition at the 13th Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament on Saturday, March 7, at 9pm, after both sides battled through gripping semi-final encounters.

Widely regarded as the largest sporting event of its kind during the holy month of Ramadan, the tournament is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. It is organised under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, and carries the theme “Unlimited Capabilities.”

Both finalists earned their place the hard way.

Al Tadawi booked their spot in the title match with an impressive 3-1 victory over Al Samawi, avenging an earlier defeat in the preliminary round. They took the opening set 25-21, before Al Samawi responded strongly to edge the second 25-23. Al Tadawi, however, stayed composed, reclaimed control in the third set 25-22, and then held off a late surge in the fourth to seal it 27-25.

The second semi-final delivered even more drama.

Yaazar came from two sets down to defeat M.I.N. Investment 3-2 in a contest that stretched close to two and a half hours. M.I.N. Investment, who had advanced to the last four as group winners, looked in command after taking the first two sets 25-21 and 25-19.

But Yaazar refused to back down.

After adjusting their approach, they fought back to claim the third and fourth sets 25-20 and 28-26, forcing a deciding fifth. In a tense finale, Yaazar kept their nerve and edged the final set 23-21 to complete a remarkable comeback and secure their place in the championship match.

Winners honoured

Elsewhere, the tournament’s organising committee recognised the winners of the cycling and road running events. The awards were presented by Hassan Al Mazrouei, Tournament Director, alongside Issa Sharif, member of the organising committee and Director of Events at the Dubai Sports Council, and Adel Al Bannai, Head of the Technical Committee.

Road Running Winners

10km Men’s Open

1. Yassir Echchaachoui (Morocco) – 28:02
2. Taha Adem Gudeto (Ethiopia) – 28:55
3. Dagne Tesfu (Ethiopia) – 29:14

10km Women’s Open

1. Roukia Al Moukim (Morocco) – 32:14
2. Nowel Cheruto (Uganda) – 34:25
3. Mueni Mutuku (Kenya) – 37:20

5km UAE Nationals Men

1. Abdul Karim Teki – 13:51
2. Khalid Khalil – 14:50
3. Saif Al Alawi – 14:50

5km UAE Nationals Women

1. Ruqayya Mohammed Al Haranki Al Marzouqi – 18:33
2. Latifa Ali – 20:07
3. Hamda Al Ali – 20:23

5km Men’s Open

1. Noauman El Assaoui (Morocco) – 13:55
2. Chala Gudeta (Ethiopia) – 13:55
3. Mohammed Ait Mamas Touda (Morocco) – 14:05

5km Women’s Open

1. Gloria Chebet (Uganda) – 17:34
2. Alisa Petrova (Russia) – 18:02
3. Liesbeth Verheyden (Belgium) – 18:09

5km Senior Citizens and Residents Men

1. Mbarek Rihane (Morocco) – 16:10
2. Jean-Claude Haramboure (France) – 16:12
3. Salem Atiq Al Muhairi (UAE) – 18:34

5km Senior Women

1. Latifa Issaroukh (France) – 20:37
2. Pia Hanske (Germany) – 20:43
3. Ghada Taher (Iraq) – 22:16

5km Youth Boys

1. Imrane Aznaq (Morocco) – 18:26
2. Salem Abdullah Al Alawi (UAE) – 19:15
3. Omar Abu Bakr Ismail (Sudan) – 19:16

5km Youth Girls

1. Hannah Schmidt (Great Britain) – 18:30
2. Hattie Garrett (Great Britain) – 18:42
3. Zaira Scholz-Akram (Germany) – 18:43

5km Junior Boys

1. Charles Mouve Houdinet (France) – 18:20
2. Saif Al Marri (UAE) – 18:37
3. Mika Hansske (Germany) – 20:05

5km Junior Girls

1. Mia Hobeika (Ukraine) – 19:24
2. Ridemtta Mwaka Shikoli (Kenya) – 20:37
3. Mika Mansfield (USA) – 20:40

Cycling Winners

Men’s Open

1. Koen Vermelt-Vorte (Netherlands)
2. Ahmed Al Mansouri (UAE)
3. Kirill Miller (Russia)

Senior Citizens and Residents

1. Abdelkader Rahmani (Algeria)
2. Noureddine Houchine (Algeria)
3. Nader Bin Hendi (UAE)

Teams Event

1. Dubai General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Team
2. White Star Team
3. Abu Dhabi Cycling Club Team

People of Determination

1. Abdullah Salem Al Balushi
2. Theyab Al Muhairi
3. Ahmed Al Badawi

People of Determination

1. Hussein Murad Al Mazem
2. Sami Al Salimi (Oman)
3. Ahmed Mohammed Al Nuaimi