Egypt's Sporting Club and Byblos off to a perfect start at AWST 2024

The seventh edition of the Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST 2024) began its volleyball championship on Saturday, featuring intense competition and impressive performances from four teams in Group A.

With matches held at Khorfakkan Club on the picturesque eastern coast of the emirate, the day was filled with high energy and enthusiasm as teams from across the Arab world embarked on their quest to become champions.

Egypt's Sporting Club squared off against the UAE's Fatima Bint Mubarak Academy in an enthralling 3-set game that captured the audience's attention from the outset.

The Egyptian team, demonstrating a blend of strategic prowess and athletic excellence, seized the first set with a score of 25-19.

They maintained their momentum with a spectacular performance in the second set, overwhelming their opponents with a score of 25-5. The final set saw them clinching victory with a decisive 25-10, culminating in a commanding overall score of 75-34.

The day's second match was no less dramatic, featuring a showdown between the Lebanese Byblos team and the Iraqi Akad Ankawa. This encounter displayed resilience and determination, with the Lebanese team emerging victorious.

The match unfolded with intense rallies and strategic gameplay, keeping the spectators on the edge of their seats. With their cohesive play and sharp focus, the Byblos team secured wins in all three sets with scores of 25-20, 25-21, and 25-16, respectively, ending the game 75-57.

The host team, Sharjah Women's Sports Club, faced a setback in the basketball competition, losing to the newcomers, Syria's Al Thawra, with a final score of 47-78.

The match took place on Saturday at Al Bataeh Club.

The Sharjah Women's Sports Club missed an opportunity to dominate the game as they ended the first quarter with a 19-17 lead over the Syrian club. However, the Syrian team regained control and secured a convincing victory, dominating the rest of the game until the final whistle.

Players of Capital Club and Ghaz Al-Shamal in action during their basketball match.

The opening day of the basketball games also witnessed AWST 2020 champion Al-Fuhais from Jordan dominating the court with unmatched skill and teamwork, maintaining the upper hand throughout most of the match against Kuwait's Al-Fatat club.

The Jordanian team emerged victorious with an impressive final score of 95-78, setting the tone for the entire AWST 2024 tournament with their outstanding performance.

After the intense opening game, the crowd was primed for more breathtaking basketball action, which unfolded as the Capital Club from Saudi Arabia squared off against Iraq's Ghaz Al-Shamal SC in a spectacular match.

The Saudi team kept the momentum high and dominated the four quarters, ending the game in their favour with a final score of 79-65.

Elsewhere, AWST’s fencing competition featuring six clubs kicked off on Saturday.

The tournament's stage is set for fencers determined to claim victory and clinch gold medals in a thrilling showcase of individual and team prowess across Epee, Foil, and Saber disciplines.

Hosted at Sharjah Women's Sports Club, the fencing battles kicked off with intensity, with preliminary rounds unfolding, setting the scene for epic encounters in the final rounds, concluding in the crowning of the fencing champions of AWST 2024.

Tunisian Ziad Ferjani, Head of the Arab Fencing Federation's Technical Committee, was enthusiastic about the impressive performance levels observed during the preliminary rounds. He said: "Most clubs participating in AWST 2024 are from the Gulf region. The six formidable teams participating feature athletes of exceptionally high calibre within the Arab region, boasting rankings in the Gulf region and the Arab world." He also highlighted the inclusion of six international referees from Bahrain and two female referees from the UAE, alongside neutral referees from Egypt and Syria.

On the status of Arab fencing, he said: "Our presence is notably strong, particularly from Africa, with Tunisia and Egypt standing out. We cannot overlook Tunisia's Ines Boubakri, the Rio bronze medalist.

“Egypt is home to world champions fencers and holds an impressive position on the global ranking. This is a positive indicator of the advancing global status of Arab women's fencing."