News DeskDUBAI: The race for the Wheelchair Basketball crown reaches a crucial stage tonight, as four teams battle for a place in the final of the 13th Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament.
Dubai Police will go head-to-head with Dubai Courts at 10 pm, before Dubai Municipality face RTA at 11.30 pm at the Dubai Club for People of Determination in Al Ghusais. The two winning sides will then advance to the final, set to be played on Wednesday, March 4, at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex.
Widely regarded as one of Dubai’s flagship sporting events during the holy month of Ramadan, the annual 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, and under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council. This year’s edition is being staged under the theme “Unlimited Capabilities.”
Dubai Courts booked their semi-final berth in impressive fashion, finishing top of Group A with a flawless record, including a 24-15 victory over Aswan Real Estate. Joining them in the last four is RTA, who claimed second place in the group after winning two of their three matches.
From Group B, Dubai Police General Command advanced after a commanding 42-14 win over the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, having also overcome DEWA earlier in the competition.
They are joined by Dubai Municipality, who reinforced their title credentials with a dominant 52-25 win over DEWA in their final group match. So far, Dubai Municipality have emerged as the team to beat, having scored 177 points while conceding just 68, the best attacking and defensive record in the tournament.
3×3 Basketball heats up
Elsewhere, the 3×3 Basketball tournament at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex is also moving towards an exciting finish.
A total of 48 teams are competing across the men’s, women’s and under-17 divisions, with 24 teams in the men’s section and 12 each in the women’s and youth categories.
In the men’s competition, Zabeel 1, Zabeel 2, 3×3 Dubai and Black List have all secured spots in the semi-finals. The finalists will be decided over the next two days, with the championship game scheduled for Friday, March 6.
Volleyball action continues
The volleyball competition is also gathering momentum. Al Samawi topped their group after defeating Fahoud Zabeel 3-1 in a closely contested second-round clash. The set scores read 26-24, 25-21, 30-28 and 25-23.
Al Samawi will next take on Yazar at 9 pm tonight.
Tug-of-war promises fierce contest
The Tug-of-War Championship, which got underway on Sunday, March 1, has drawn 25 teams competing across three divisions: Government Departments and Institutions, Juniors, and Community.
The government category features several strong contenders, including defending champions National Guard, along with the Ministry of Defence, Air Force, Dubai Civil Defence, and Dubai Police.
The juniors division is also expected to produce some of the most intense competition, with teams including Sharjah Amiri Guard Sports Club, A25 Gym, Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club, and Sharjah Police Science Academy all in the mix.
In the community division, 12 teams have been split into four groups. The first group includes AJ Mustafa 1, Transguard, Al Jawarih, and W World Gym. Group two features Raptor Gym, IFBB Sports Academy, AJ Mustafa 2, and Al Muqatiloon. Group three brings together Al Ajban, Wasl, Avalar, and Dutco Construction Group, while Level Up, Global, Mangalore Warriors, and Olympia make up the fourth group.
As the 13th Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament heads into its final stretch, the tug-of-war event will continue through the preliminary rounds before the final on March 6.
The popular volleyball tournament, which began on February 26, will stage its semi-finals on March 5, followed by the third-place match on March 6 and the final on March 7.
Organisers have also encouraged members of the public to attend the padel and volleyball competitions at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex, where spectators can not only enjoy the action from the stands but also stand a chance to win luxury cars, smartphones and other prizes through the tournament’s daily raffle draws.
