Sheikha Jawaher interacts with the players during her visit to the club.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

It could not have been more motivating for the Sharjah Women’s Sports Club athletes than having Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of Sharjah Women's Sports (SWS), visit the club headquarters at the start of the new season.

Sheikha Jawaher's gracious visit and engagement with the athletes was the encouragement they needed to further commit to training and give their best performance as the new season unfolds.

Expressing her pride over their athletic accomplishments, which led to numerous records and eye-catching medals at the local and regional levels, Sheikha Jawaher spoke to each athlete and lauded their commitment which culminated in the club winning 370 medals over the previous two seasons.

Sheikha Jawaher focused on what it means to be an athlete, saying: "It is essential that players display great sportsmanship when representing the UAE at international championships, in victory and in defeat.”

Adding: "It goes without saying that committing to training and paying attention to your coaches will elevate your performance and result in your dreams coming true. You deserve victory for your commitment and hard work. "

Sheikha Jawaher shared with the athletes her love of sports and her following their televised matches, noting that she considers their accomplishments a successful model of the journey of women's sports development in the UAE.

Recognising the people who work behind the scenes, Sheikha Jawaher said: "This progress in women’s sports is the result of the tireless efforts of coaches, support staff, and parents, all working hard to enhance the skills of female athletes to qualify them internationally.”

Sheikha Jawaher also called upon institutions in the UAE to support female athletes through encouragement and sponsorship, adding: "This is a responsibility that we all share as a matter of national pride to enable UAE women to represent the country in global sports events. This can manifest in government bodies, private companies and educational institutions giving leave hours for athletes to train and to participate in international tournaments.”

In addition to playing an innovative role in fostering women's sports at the local and regional levels, Sharjah Women's Sports Club has adopted a scientific approach to recruiting and training athletes, as well as setting plans for each athlete to eventually qualify to the Olympics, fulfilling the dreams and aspirations of the UAE.