Featuring new events, 11th edition of NAS Sports Tournament begins today

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The much-anticipated 11th edition of the Nad Al Sheba (NAS) Sports Tournament, launched and supported by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, will kick off on Monday.

Held under the directives of Sheikh Mansour Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman Dubai Sports Council, the largest sports tournament of its kind is held annually during the holy month of Ramadan at the NAS Sports Complex, under the theme ‘Limitless Capabilities’.

Organised under the auspices of the Dubai Sports Council (DSC), the sports extravaganza will continue until March 31, featuring nine different sports disciplines, including volleyball, padel, jiu-jitsu, fencing, wheelchair basketball, road race, cycling, tug-of-war, and an obstacle challenge.

With top players from across the world in fray, the Padel Championship will set the ball rolling for the NAS Sports Tournament. The Padel Championship will run until March 30.

The padel competition will be followed by a three-day fencing tournament to be held from March 12–14.

Attracting top teams, the Volleyball competition kicks off on March 22.

The obstacle challenge will take place from March 14 to 21. On March 16, the Meydan Track will host the 5-km and 10-km road running races, followed by the Jiu-Jitsu Championship on March 17–18 and the wheelchair basketball tournament from March 20–28.

Next up on the NAS Sports Tournament list will be the cycling event, which is taking place on March 22–23, followed by the volleyball competition from March 22–31. The tug-of-war will be held on March 24 and continue until March 29.

Led by Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, the tournament boasts substantial cash prizes totaling over Dhs3.6 million for top finishers across various competitions.

Saeed Hareb.

Hareb expressed gratitude to Sheikh Hamdan for his support in making the tournament a significant international sporting event.

He highlighted the continuous efforts to elevate the tournament's stature under the directives of Sheikh Mansour.

The winners of the volleyball tournament will receive prizes worth Dhs1.5 million, while another Dhs500,000 has been allocated for the cycling race winners. The padel tournament offers a prize purse of more than Dhs374,000, while the various winners in the road race stand a chance to win a cumulative amount of Dhs325, 000.

The amount allocated for the winners of the tug-of-war tournament is Dhs280,000, while Obstacle Challenge winners will receive Dhs265,000. Teams participating in the wheelchair basketball tournament will get Dhs210,000, while winners in the Jiu-Jitsu competition will receive prizes worth Dhs150,000, and the winners of the fencing competition will get Dhs56,000.

“The Dubai Sports Council and the organizing committee, following Sheikh Mansour's directives, are tirelessly dedicated to elevating the status of this tournament, said Hareb.

“Our primary aim is to fulfill the ambitious objectives outlined by Sheikh Hamdan. With ten editions of this event behind us, much of our success is owed to the visionary leadership of Sheikh Hamdan.

"NAS Tournament stands as the premier sporting event during Ramadan, eagerly anticipated by both amateur and professional athletes within and beyond the UAE. Each year, they eagerly await the arrival of the holy month to partake in a diverse range of activities. Beyond the intense competition, participants also have the invaluable opportunity to engage with elite international athletes from around the globe," he added.

“Every year, we strive to introduce at least one new sporting discipline, and this Ramadan, we are fortunate to debut tug-of-war and the Obstacle Challenge, enriching the array of nine different sports," Hareb revealed.

Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Assistant Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council and Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee, expressed satisfaction with the ongoing pursuit of excellence, not only by the event itself but also by the athletes involved.

Nasser Aman Al Rahma.

"Undoubtedly, this tournament has set a benchmark for greatness in sporting events. This drive towards excellence propels us to continuously strive for our goals," he said.

Featuring nine distinct sporting events this year, once again we anticipate athletes from around the world converging here to experience the distinctive atmosphere that Dubai presents on the global stage. As the eleventh edition commences on Monday, we anticipate the participation of top international and Arab athletes across various competitions. We hold a legacy perspective for this tournament, aiming to provide a robust platform for our local athletes while fostering a lasting sports legacy in the UAE," Rahma added.

Hassan Al Mazrouei, Tournament Manager, expressed contentment with the preparations made by the organising committee for this edition.

"The upcoming NAS Sports Tournament promises to stand out with its distinctive and meticulously planned arrangements.

“We have diligently ensured that participants are offered nothing short of the best, thereby elevating the level and quality of competition," he added.