News DeskDubai: Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, attended the 12th edition of the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament, the largest sporting event of its kind, late on Monday.
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, the tournament is 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, with the slogan ‘Limitless Abilities’.
Dr. Sultan attended part of the Padel Championship competitions, the volleyball match between the Fohood Zabeel and Al Hilal, and the semi-finals of the Tug-of-War Championship. Besides, Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi, others attending the event were Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council; Ismail Al Hashemi, First Vice President of the Asian Padel Federation, Second Vice President of the UAE Padel Association and member of the Dubai Sports Council; Mishal Abdul Karim Julfar, Executive Director of the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services; Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Assistant Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council; Hassan Al Mazrouei, Tournament Director and Saeed Al Ajil, Vice President of the UAE Sports for All Federation.
Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi took the opportunity to honour the various partners of the tournament from the government and private sector, including Insurance Market.ae, the official insurance partner; Tadawi Healthcare Group; Dubai Police General Command; Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services; Dubai Sports Channel; Pocari Sweat and Dubai Health.
Volleyball semi-final line-up ready
Meanwhile, Al Samawi and Al Hilal joined Al Tadawi 1 and Al Ameed in the semi-finals of the volleyball competition.
Earlier, Al Ameed had brushed off defending champions Zabeel 3-2, while Al Tadawi 1 had shown their hunger for the title with a 3-1 result against winless HFH. On Monday night, Al Samawi and Al Hilal lived up to the script as both won their respective matches to complete the semi-final line-up.
At the end of the group matches, Al Tadawi 1 earned the right to meet Al Samawi, while Al Hilal will cross swords with Al Ameed in the two semi-finals.
In the last round of Group B, Al Hilal beat Fohood Zabeel 3-1, while Al Tadawi 2 got the better of Al Samawi 3-1.
Al Hilal asserted themselves among the title favourites as they swept the first two sets, 29-27 and 25-17. But Fohood Zabeel got their act together and came right back to take the third set 25-19. Al Hilal then upped their game with outside hitter Michele Fedrizzi (14) and Danny Demyanenko (13) ensuring the fourth set 25-18 and the match along with a spot in the semi-finals.
Stanislau Kulahin (16), Vitali Alsheuski (11) and Mikita Kanavalau (10) stood out for the Fohood Zabeel losing cause.
The second match was equally close with Al Tadawi 2 relying on the scoring prowess of Denis Litvinov (20 points). But with Anton – so far the highest scorer of the tournament – in full flow, Al Tadawi 2 found themselves against the wall as the Polish spiker topscored with 21 points.
However, that was the most Al Samawi could push themselves as Al Tadawi 2 went about their task in the next two sets, winning them 25-20 and 25-20 to ease in the last four stages of the competition.
Wheelchair Basketball Final
The curtains will fall on the Wheelchair Basketball Championship on Wednesday evening (March 19) with a high-octane clash at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex between Dubai Municipality and Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services.
Both secured contrasting results in their respective semi-finals with Dubai Municipality snatching a hard-fought 29-27 victory over defending champions, Dubai Police, while Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services team secured a well-deserved 34-26 victory over Sharjah Police.
Sharjah Police, meanwhile, had to settle for the bronze medal after defeating Dubai Police 42-32 in the third place play-offs held at the Dubai Club for People of Determination.
National Guard to face Ministry of Defence
The National Guard will meet the Ministry of Defence in the final of the Tug-of-War competition.
The Ministry of Defence qualified for the final after defeating the Ras Al Khaimah Civil Defence 2-0 in the first semi-finals, while the National Guard secured an identical result against the Land Forces in the Government Departments and Institutions category.
The Sharjah Self-Defence Club defeated the A25 Gym, while the Sharjah Sports Council beat Sharjah Academy for Police Sciences in the two semi-finals of the Junior category. And in the Community category, Al Asifa got the better of IFBB Academy, while Truss General Trading beat Al Kawaser to make it into the final.
