Fohood Zabeel, Bin Thani reach volleyball semis, stage all set for NAS Run today

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Fohood Zabeel and Bin Thani booked berths in the semi-finals of the VolleyballChampionship at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament in Dubai on Tuesday.

Held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, and organised by the Dubai Sports Council, the NAS Sports Tournament has been one of the top sporting attractions during the Holy Month of Ramadan since 2013.

In the first match, Fohood Zabeel defeated the Surprise team 3-1 (25-19, 25-21, 24-26, and 29-27) in a thrilling clash.

Both teams tried hard to dislodge each other, but Fohood Zabeel ended up as the better side. Fohood Zabeel’s Nasir Ali was named the best player in the match for his all-round efforts, which played a key role in the team’s victory.

Bin Thani advanced to the next round following a 3-1 (25-19, 25-19, 22-25, and 25-21) victory over the HMS team by three sets to one, with a score of 25-19, 25-19, 22-25, and 25-21. Bin Thani’s Mohammed Walizada was adjudged as the best player in the match.

Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum and Joan Matin Diaz qualified for the round of 16 in the professional category of the Padel Championship.

They defeated Omar Mohamed Ibrahim and Omar Ahli, 6-1, 6-2. Javier Garrido and Lucas Campagnolo reached the next round after beating Guillermo Villavan Martin and Andre Delmar 6-1, 6-0.

Saeed Mohammed Al Marri and Pablo Castillo beat Ali Al Aref and Alonso Rodriguez 6-1, 6-4, and Abdullah Ahli Ahmed and Jim Chibi downed Siggy Mews and Kenneth Kauenberg 6-2, 6 -2.

Ramiro Garcia and Groj Tobaishi, Raul Marco Duran and Javier Garcia Mora, Borja Lopez Vidal and Pablo Jose Fernandez also reached the round of 16.

Dubai Municipality, who won all three group stage matches, reached the semi-finals of the Wheelchair Basketball Championship.

After three days of the wheelchair basketball competition held at the Dubai Club for People of Determination, Dubai Municipality topped Group B with three wins, while Khorfakkan Club for

Dubai Municipality opened with a facile 43-12 win over Roads and Transport before defeating Dubai Ambulance Corporation 37-28. In the third match, the Municipality men proved too good for the Department of Finance, winning 39-14. Dubai Ambulance Corporation placed second with two wins.

In Group A, Khorfakkan Club for the Disabled reached the semi-final following a string of strong performances as they won their three games by big margins.

They first defeated the Dubai Police General Headquarters, 39-14, before going on to beat the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs -- Dubai, 37-14.

In their third match, the Khorfakkan Club players thumped Dnata Travel 51-9. Al Thiqah Club for the Disabled followed Khorfakkan Club with two wins in the group.

The NAS Run will take place on Thursday and over 2,500 people are expected to take part in the event, which features races in different categories across two distances - 5km and 10km - and is open to all men and women living in the UAE, of any nationality or ability, but only amateurs are allowed to take part in the 5km run.

The organizing committee of the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament has intensified its preparations to organize the Spartan Nas Night Race.

The professional category (Elite) is for those who are able to finish the race in a time of 20 minutes, and the age group category, in which participants are classified into 11 age groups: 14 to 17, 18 to 24, 25 to 29, 30 to 34, 35 to 39, and 40 to 44, 45 to 44, 45 to 49, 50 to 54, 55 to 59, and 60 and above, and the last category is the amateur category, in which participation is open to all.

The competitions include 20 obstacles extending over a distance of 5 km.

Meanwhile, Saleh Abdullah Al Marzouqi, member of the organizing committee and chairman of the executive committee of the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament, said that the organizing committee has decided to add a distance of 4 kilometers for young age groups, in addition to the distances of 5 kilometers and 10 kilometers for different groups in the NAS Run.

Marzouqi said: "The decision is aimed at providing young people the opportunity to participate in these events."

Marzouqi stressed that Nad Al Sheba Sports is an important annual event that everyone is waiting for because of its great sporting and societal benefits, as it contributes to the support and development of important sports.

"The tournament has also helped in increasing the popularity of many sports in the country and the base of its participants."