Participants pose for a picture with Salem Yousef Al Qaseer after the opening ceremony.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The much-anticipated fourth edition of the Sharjah Labour Sports Tournament kicked off at the Sharjah Sports Council ground on Friday.

Salem Yousef Al Qaseer, Chairman of the labour Standards Development Authority in Sharjah, in the presence of Major General Saif Al Zari Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police and head of Emergencies, Crises and Disasters in the Emirate, hit the ceremonial shot to mark the launch of the event.

The tournament carrying prize purse of Dhs250,000 is being organised by Labour Standards Development Authority in Sharjah in cooperation with the Sharjah Sports Council and Reach Target Sports Services Company.

Sports Expert Saeed Al Aajil representing the Sharjah Sports Council, Tariq Salem Al Khanbashi, founder and director of Reach Target Sports Services, and Omar Salem Al Sharji, Director of Labour Policies Department at LSDA also attended the opening ceremony.

Sharjah Labour Sports Tournament will end on April 2, 2021 and witness competitions in five disciplines. Around 1000 players divided into 63 teams are taking part in football, basketball, cricket, volleyball and hockey.

 A basketball match in progress during Sharjah Labour Sports Tournament.

The first day of the tournament witnessed strong competitions among the participating teams. Taking into account preventive precautions, the competitions on the first day were limited to three sports, as six games were played in basketball, five in football and four in hockey, while volleyball and cricket matches were postponed to the next week.

All games of the competition, until April 2, will take place at sports fields of the Sharjah Sports Council in Sharjah National Park, from 8 am to 11 am between 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Fast Building, Abu Shagrah, Bisdak and Armado posted facile wins in the basketball matches.

“This tournament indicates the interest of the Emirate of Sharjah in the well-being of the workers and in providing sports events to entertain them, to encourage them to have sports as their healthy lifestyle, said Qaseer.

“That this comes in line with the guidance of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to improve the work environment in Sharjah. Thus, the strategic plan of the Labour Standards Development Authority in Sharjah seeks to raise the level of sports and social awareness among all workers in Sharjah, he added.

“We at LSDA seek to increase these activities as instructed by Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Executive Council.

Qaseer expressed satisfaction over the success of the previous three editions. "This tournament, the first of its kind in the region, plays an important role in developing the spirit of cooperation and competition, promotes teamwork, and contributes to building bridges of acquaintance among all.”

He thanked all those who contributed in the success of the tournament.

Major General Shamsi thanked the organizers of the tournament.

He said, "Successful teamwork, applying all preventive measures in sports events in the country, such as conducting tests for all players, makes the tournament possible.

“Such measures indicate the success in dealing with such events in a distinctly organised manner, and indicate the capabilities available in Sharjah to contribute as an important factor in the success of such tournaments,” he added.

Khanbashi also stressed that the tournament followed all precautionary measures required in sports events in the country.