Sports

Gryffindors IISJAA throwball champions

June 08, 2018

JEDDAH — With 12 matches played in a single day, IISJAA successfully held its first females-only throwball tournament and Gryffindors emerged champions.

Avengers, Blazing Tigress, Dynamic Hawks and Gladiators were the other 4 teams vied for honors in the 30-minute per match tourney held at the IISJ girls campus.

The players comprised International Indian School Jeddah Alumni from batches 90’s to 2017. Throwball is a non-contact ball game played across a net between two teams. It is a unifying game and famous among the female fraternity of IISJ.

The teams comprised 12 players, having 9 players on the court and 3 substitutes. Great serves, fascinating throws, strategic gameplay and stout defending skills were seen on the court. With only 10-15 minute gap between each game, the teams’ strength, stamina and skills were tested under the scorching sun. During the quarterfinals, Blazing Tigress (led by captain Rayeesa Fatima, Excom member), Gryffindors (captained by Nishat Farooqui) and Avengers (captained by Rehab Samad) took lead in battling with Dynamic Hawks (captained by Sheema Darafshan) and Gladiators (led by Shifa Rashed) to reach semifinals with a very good margin in points.

The 10th match was intense between Blazing Tigress and Dynamic Hawks with the latter beginning strongly with good serves and played strategically to win over Dynamic Hawks. The semifinals pitted keen rivals Avengers and Blazing Tigress. Avengers scored a marvelous win by leading in both sets over Blazing Tigress who took the 2nd runner-up title.

The Blazing Tigress had an excellent coach in Mohd Ameen Uz Zaman (Excom member). The team, led by Rayeesa Fatima, comprised Noreen Ansaari (vice captain) who brought points by her amazing serves, Aisha Khan who turned the entire game by her amazing strategy and cover ups and Samaa Bin Mahfooz who constantly motivated the team and saved the game. Apart from these standout players the team had Ibtisam Bakhareba, Syeda Maryam, Mehnaz Unnisa, Nausheen Naseer, Salma Siddiqui, Qurat ul Ann, Maryam Nadir and Nida Fatema Ali Jafar Zaidi.

The final between Gryffindors and Avengers rose to the occasion. Gryffindors banked on Iqra Badar, supported by Mehreen Fatima for their smart catches and serves that led the team to victory.

Avengers showed good understanding and incredible strength. Areej Afsar played exceptionally well scoring 9 points consecutively in two sets leaving the opponenta stunned.

The team which captured the attention of spectators was Gryffindors. The team, whose name drew inspiration from Harry Potter, had left an everlasting impression on the tournament through their tactical aggressive approach and ball placements.

The referees panel comprised Asra Mahboob, Asna Mahboob and Nabeela Khannum.

The final ceremony, conducted by the ExCom team, was hosted by Nadir Hameed and Suhail Mehdi, president of the ExCom team, who praised all the participating teams in maintaining the time as well as the spirit of the tournament. He further thanked the volunteers.

The prizes were distributed by Asra Mahboob (sponsor) and the Excom team of Rayeesa Fatima, Sabah Noureen, Suhail Mehdi, Syed Maqdoom, Ameenuzzaman, Zubair Siddiqui and Nabeel Shaikh.

The event was sponsored by Broadway Cosmos which is one of the reliable online sellers.

Team awards:

Winners — Gryffindors, 1st runner-up — Avengers, 2nd runner-up — Blazing Tigress, best kit — Gryffindors.

Performance awards:

Player of the tournament — Areej Afsar (Avengers), server of the tournament — Iqra Badar (Gryffindors), most stylish player — Sheema Darafshan (Dynamic Hawks), strategic player — Noreen Ansari (Blazing Tigress), best volunteer — Afreen Zubair. — SG


June 08, 2018
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