HERO Hatta, Muscle Show and Moonlight Classic headline list of sports events in Dubai this week

Gulf Today, Sport Reporter

UCI HERO Dubai Hatta, the only Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) mountain bike race in the Arabian Peninsula, the Dubai Muscle Show, and the Ladies European Tour’s Dubai Moonlight Classic golf tournament headline a blockbuster list of 32 sports events taking place in Dubai this week, including the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Twenty20 World Cup where two of cricket’s oldest foes, Australia and England, square-off at Dubai International Stadium on Saturday.

Five of these 32 events are international – the fifth being the American Swimming Coaches Association’s first 1st Middle East Swimming Coaches Conference, which is taking place at Hamdan Sports Complex.

The month-long 30x30 Dubai Fitness Challenge will also kick off this week, on Oct.29, with various activities taking place around the Emirate - in schools, beaches and parks, in different communities, and community and fitness centres.

Organised by HBG Events in collaboration with Dubai Sports Council, Dubai Muscle Show will take place from Oct.28-30 at Dubai World Trade Center, bringing together some of the biggest names from the world of bodybuilding and fitness.

The most successful Arab bodybuilder in history, Egypt’s Mamdouh Elssbiay, popularly known as Big Ramy, will return to Dubai on a high, having successfully defended his Mr Olympia title. Joining him at the Show will be the legendary eight time Mr Olympia, Ronnie Coleman, six time Mr Olympia, Dorian Yates, and Flex Lewis, who is the only person to win the Mr Olympia 212 category a record seven consecutive times. The show’s stellar line-up also includes bodybuilder and fitness model Ulisses Jr and IFBB NY Pro Wellness Champion, Yarishna Ayala.

The second edition of the HERO Dubai Hatta, taking place on October 29 at the Hatta MTB Trail Centre, will feature cyclists from more than 40 countries, including the sport’s biggest stars like current World Champions, Ramona Forchini and Leonardo Paez, and Ariane Lüthi, Martin Stosek, Kristian Hynek, Katazina Sosna, Andreas Seewald, and Urs Huber.

Meanwhile, superstar Thai sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn will line up alongside compatriot Atthaya Thitikul, Europe’s victorious Solheim Cup skipper Catriona Matthew and English legend Dame Laura Davies in a star-studded field, competing under the floodlights at the 15th Dubai Moonlight Classic presented by EGA - the only night tournament in world golf.

The 9th Sheikha Hind Women’s Sports Tournament will also start this week with the Bowling competition at Dubai Bowling Centre on October 26. The badminton competition will then start at Al Nasr Club from October 27, continuing until October 31, while the CrossFit championship will take place on October 29 at Max & Aegle in Nad Al Sheba.