Engineer Hanadi Al Kabouri, Mey Al Ameri and other dignitaries pose for a picture.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club, in collaboration with the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), has opened a taekwondo training centre.

The taekwondo training centre was inaugurated inside Shaghrafa Park in Sharjah and is dedicated to girls. It is aimed at promoting the culture of practicing self-defense sports across different regions of the Emirate.

This initiative was part of Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club’s plan to unearth local talent, develop their capabilities, and involve them in tournaments to eventually contribute to the national teams.

The opening ceremony of the new centre was graced by Engineer Hanadi Al Kabouri, Executive Director of Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club, and Mey Al Ameri, Acting Director of the Sports Teams Department at Sharjah Women's Sports Club, and other dignitaries.

Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club, commended the joint cooperation with Shurooq for providing modern infrastructure and state-of-the-art facilities for the center. He also expressed thanks to the Sharjah Sports Council for their exceptional support and follow-up.

"We look forward to the new center meeting the highest international standards for practicing sports, in line with the vision and values laid down by His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, that promote sports as an important way of leading a healthy life.”

He emphasized the club's commitment to implementing its strategic plans, particularly in nurturing local talents by leveraging the exceptional training facilities to produce capable players who can represent the UAE in prominent international tournaments and events.

He affirmed that the opening of the new branch would contribute to achieving these goals, emphasizing that all health and occupational safety requirements had been taken into account.

Engineer Hanadi stressed that the new branch of the club was one of the primary goals that the club's management had worked diligently to implement.

She highlighted its importance, particularly its proximity to residential areas where Emirati families reside, the desire to explore talented female taekwondo players to enhance the club's teams, and the investment in joint cooperation with Shurooq.

Engineer Hanadi firmly believed in the capabilities of Emirati girls to excel in the field of sports, citing the successes of Emirati girls in various fields.

She stressed that the age range selection of 7–15 years aimed to prepare players technically, physically, and mentally from an early age, enabling them to participate widely in sports events. She further emphasized that one of the club's objectives was to develop girls for a distinguished sporting future.