Sharjah Women’s Sports hosts successful University Cup for Basketball and Volleyball in partnership with American University of Sharjah

This story was originally published in Arabic in Al Khaleej

Hanan Al Mahmoud: The Tournament Showcases Our Commitment to Promoting Sports Culture and Engaging the Community

Sharjah Women’s Sports (SWS), in collaboration with American University of Sharjah (AUS), successfully organized the inaugural University Cup for Basketball and Volleyball. The event, which ran from September 30 to October 9 at the AUS Sports Complex, saw participation from over 300 students representing 9 universities and academic institutions across the UAE.

The tournament was divided into two stages: the first round took place on September 30, October 1 and October 2, followed by the final round on October 7, 8 and 9. The event was marked by a high level of competition, with intense matches that brought out the best in the athletes, cheered on by an energetic crowd.

The closing ceremony was attended by Her Excellency Hanan Al Mahmoud, Vice Chairperson of Sharjah Women’s Sports; Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Noman, Sports Advisor at SWS; Shaima Bin Talia, Acting Vice Chancellor for Student Experience at AUS; and other prominent officials from both SWS and AUS.

In the volleyball competition, the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) took home the championship cup, while AUS finished in second place, and the University of Sharjah secured third. Individual honors were awarded to standout players, with Fatima Agum of Bath Spa University named Best Server, Kenza Bukhari from RIT awarded Best Setter, her co-player Iner Askarova recognized as Best Spiker, and Nancy Omar from AUS named Best All-Round Player.

In basketball, the University of Sharjah emerged victorious, with AUS and RIT finishing second and third, respectively. Julie Moukaied from AUS received the Best Three-Point Shooter award, while her teammate Nour Halawa was recognized as Best Overall Player. Alia Al-Suwaidi from the University of Sharjah won the Best Defensive Player award.

The tournament was part of SWS’ wider strategy to create competitive platforms for women in sports, targeting talented female university students. The event aligns with the organization’s mission to encourage athletic participation and promote the growth of women’s sports within the community.

Her Excellency Hanan Al Mahmoud expressed her satisfaction with the success of the event, noting the impressive turnout and level of competition. 

“This tournament embodies our commitment to promoting a culture of sports among women in Sharjah and beyond. We are thrilled to see such a high level of enthusiasm and participation, which encourages us to plan for future editions,” she said.

Al Mahmoud extended her gratitude to AUS for its exceptional hosting of the event and to the UAE Volleyball and Basketball Federations for their valuable contributions to the organization of the competition. She emphasized that these initiatives are part of a broader effort, guided by the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, to enhance women’s participation in sports and empower them to contribute to the community’s development.

Shaima Bin Taliah, Acting Vice Chancellor for Student Experience at AUS, said: “We are proud to collaborate with Sharjah Women’s Sports for the Universities Basketball and Volleyball Cup, which saw participation from nine universities this year. This event underscores the importance of empowering women through sports and providing equal opportunities for female athletes to excel. At AUS, we are dedicated to fostering athletic excellence and creating a supportive environment for women’s sports. I am delighted that AUS reached the finals in both volleyball and basketball, securing second place in both competitions. We look forward to expanding the scope of participation in future tournaments and continuing to support our students in their pursuit of excellence on and off the court.”