The Dubai Police General Command team defeated Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services 54-36 in the final to win the Wheelchair Basketball Championship at the 10th NAS Sports Tournament in Dubai on Saturday.
Held under the theme ‘Limitless Abilities’ and organized by the Dubai Sports Council (DSC), the NAS Sports Tournament is the biggest event of its kind in terms of participation and prize money, and has been held every year in the Holy Month of Ramadan since 2013 at the iconic Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex.
Riding on a superb performance by former Egyptian national team player Ashraf Abuzed, the Dubai Police General Command team led for the majority of the game and never trailed in the second half. Later, they wrapped up the match without much fuss.
Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the tournament, Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Assistant Secretary General of the Council and Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the tournament, and Hassan Al Mazrouei, Tournament Director, gave away the prizes to the winners.
The RTA team finished third. Dubai Police’s Ashraf Abuzed won the top player award, while Mansour Abdul Rahman of RTA was adjudged the best scorer.
The referees who officiated the wheelchair basketball tournament matches were honored. The NAS Sports Tournament organizing committee also honoured strategic sponsors of the tournament, including Meshal Julfar, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services; Marwan Haji Nasser, Chairman and CEO of Al Tadawi Healthcare Group; Mousa Mohammed Al Raisi, Director of Technology Strategy and Governance Department at the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai; and Ali Khalfan Al Mansouri, Director of the General Department for Community Happiness at Dubai Police.
The sponsors of the volleyball teams were Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), who also supported Zabeel and Fahood Zabeel teams, were also honoured.
Majid Al-Usaimi, Executive Director of the Dubai Club for People of Determination, expressed his gratitude and appreciation for His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, for his generous support for the People of Determination.
'Since the beginning of the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, has generously supported and patronized the People of Determination and given orders to include competitions and sports for them in this largest sporting event of its kind during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
'Through its numerous initiatives and events over the past ten years, the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament has significantly contributed to integrating people with disabilities into society and introducing them to sports, particularly wheelchair basketball, which is growing in popularity in the UAE,' he added.
Usaimi explained that the NAS sports tournament and its humanitarian initiatives have presented the best image in supporting the people of determination, motivating them with the slogan of this edition, Limitless Abilities, which is directly related to them and their aspirations.
Captain Abdullah Hamad Al Shamsi, Chairman of the People of Determination Empowerment Council at Dubai Police, expressed happiness over the success of the Dubai Police General Command team.
Shamsi hailed His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, for their patronage and great support of the tournament.
He congratulated Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, on the victory of the Dubai Police team at the wheelchair basketball championship and commended him for giving the people of determination his whole attention and assistance, noting that the Dubai Police is the first institution to act as a friendly organization for such individuals on par with the Emirate of Dubai.
'The championship saw fierce competition among all the participating teams, but the Dubai Police team was able to take first place thanks to the team's efforts and the support of the General Department for Community Happiness.
'Today, we are reaping the benefits of those efforts after having previously finished third in the competition. Thanks to Dubai Police's interest in the sports system and the support of the General Department for Community Happiness and the backing of the Commander-in-Chief, Brigadier Ali Al Mansouri, Director of the General Department of Community Happiness, and Lt. Col. Abdul Basit Ali, Director of Sports Affairs at the Dubai Police General Headquarters.
'The Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament is one of the country's strongest tournaments, especially during the blessed month of Ramadan. It gives a bigger platform to the UAE athletes to sharpen their skills, and with its wonderful competitive atmosphere.
'NAS Sports Tournament encourages society to participate in sports in all of their forms and to adopt them as a way of life. Such events considerably help athletes, both male and female, improve their capabilities and enhance their talents,' he added.
Shamsi praised the tremendous participation from all segments of society in the tournament each year, which reflects the event’s ongoing development and success in achieving its objectives. He also appreciated the efforts made by the organizing committee in accordance with best practices, which played a significant role in elevating the tournament to the highest levels of excellence.
Elsewhere, the Emperor beat Fahood Zabeel 3-1 in the NAS Volleyball Championship’s third-place playoff match.
Emperor, last year’s champions, won the opening set 25-18 before Fahood Zabeel bounced back to take the next 25-23. Stepping up the game, Emperor kept the pressure on their rivals and won the next two sets, 26-24 and 25-19, to wrap up the match and claim third place.
