SHARJAH — Al Wasl Club has emerged champion on the Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST)’s volleyball category after a ferocious five-set match, defeating Sharjah with a final score of three sets to two.

The volleyball finale took place at the sports hall of the Sharjah Women Sports Foundation (SWSF) as part of the fourth and largest AWST, held under the patronage of Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of the ruler of Sharjah, and Chairperson of SWSF.

Players of both clubs brought their best game at the very onset of the match, scoring points almost simultaneously. As the first set continued, Sharjah emerged the better team, winning it with a score of 25-22 points.

The Al Wasl women played extraordinarily well and took an early lead with an initial second set score of 5-0. Sharjah tried to get back on track, and after two time-outs Al Wasl continued its scoring carnival that gave them the second set with a 15-point score difference of 25-10.

It was critical for both clubs to win the third set, and spectators felt the tense caution exercised by both teams. Despite an otherwise winning show by Sharjah, Al Wasl superseded their game winning the third period with a close finish of 25-21.

In the fourth, Sharjah Sports Club was seen competing with all their might to make up for their loss. This gaining of momentum and the extra push worked in their favor as they managed to win the fourth period with a score of 25-20 points, leveling the set score to 2-2.

In the fifth, Al Wasl showed an unmistakable flair, one that can only lead to victory. Sharjah was not given too many opportunities to score, and the critical fifth set with a score of 15-4 points fell to Al Wasl.

The coronation and closing ceremony of volleyball competition was held in the presence of Sheikha Hayat Bint Abdul Aziz Al Khalifa, head of AWST follow-up and supervisory committee and Member of Bahraini Olympic Committee; Nada Askar Al Naqbi, deputy chairperson of AWST supreme organizing committee, head of its executive committee and director general of SWSF; Ibrahim Abdul Malek, secretary general of the General Authority for Youth and Sports; Ali Salem Al Midfa, vice chairman of Sharjah Sports Council; Sheikh Ali Bin Bader Al Rawas, vice president of Arab Volleyball Association; Bushra Hjaij, chairperson of the Moroccan Volleyball Association and vice chairperson of World Volleyball Association; Muhammad Hassan Khalaf, director general of Sharjah Media Corporation; and Youssef Al Mulla, UAE Youssef Al Mulla, president of the UAE Volleyball Association.

The awards and trophies of individual excellence in volleyball were distributed as follows; Afraa Al Shamsi from Sharjah won the best game maker award, while the second place went to two players, namely; Amber and Mberson from Al Wasl. Muhsain Al Sayyad from El Diffa Al Hassani took third place, along with Mary Sophie Nadou from Sharjah Sports Club. Fourth place went to Norris Lady Cabrera from Sharjah and to Eman Zaroul from El Difaa. Najlaa Torab from Al Muharraq won the the best ‘Lirbro’ player award, and the Violet Mutsi from al Wasl won the best all-rounder award.

“We saw solidly advanced and exceptional performances at the fourth edition of AWST. We would not have seen that without the unparalleled support and directives of Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi to provide the a stimulating and nurturing environment to all participants to compete in, develop their capabilities and acquire lifelong experiences. All these objectives were clearly realized and have been exemplified at the volleyball finale of AWST’s fourth edition, which brought together the Al Wasl Club and Sharjah Sports Club,” Al Naqbi said.

She expressed her delight about the results of the AWST fourth edition; pointing out that the success of Emirati volleyball exemplifies the realities of women sports in UAE. She underscored that the unprecedented success of AWST 2018 points out the advanced level of Arab women in sports in general. — SG