Moroccan athletes reign supreme in road races at NAS Sports Tournament

Moroccan runners dominated nearly all categories at the road running races held as part of the 12th Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament, late on Saturday.

By far, the largest sports competition of its kind launched and sponsored by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and held annually during the holy month of Ramadan, Saturday’s racing was held at the Meydan Racecourse as one of the NAS Sports Tournament events conducted under the directives of Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, under the slogan “Limitless Capabilities”.

The road runs were a huge success with more than 4,300 athletes participating in various categories.

The running race night was attended by Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, and Faris Al Mutawa, Secretary General of the UAE National Olympic Committee, who signalled the start of the men’s 5km race.

Ali Al Mutawa, Secretary General of the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation, and member of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Sports Council, gave the starting signal for the women’s 5km race, while Adel Darwish, member of the UAE Athletics Federation, gave the starting signal for the 4km race.

The races were also attended by Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Assistant Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, Hassan Al Mazrouei, Director of the NAS Sports Tournament and Adel Al Bannai, Chairman of the Technical Committee of the tournament.

Hogging the limelight were a clutch of runners from Morocco with Yasser Al Shashoui leading a clean sweep for the North African nation while winning the men’s 10km race in a time of 27.52 minutes, while countrywoman Ruqayya Al Mazrouei won the women’s 10km race with a time of 38.36 minutes.

Shashoui was followed by countryman Mohammed Ait Mammas Touda (27.52 mins) and Ismail Al Kharshi (28.02).

In the 10km race for female citizens, Al Mazrouei finished in a time of 38.36 minutes, and was followed by Alia Al Shamsi (40.50 minutes) and Fatima Al Shamsi (42.30 mins).

The 10km race for male citizens also witnessed the presence of Africans on the podium with Abdul Karim Tiki Abdul Rahman winning first place with a time of 28.15 minutes, followed by Obaid Al Nuaimi in second place (30.21 mins), and Abdullah Surour Khamis Jumaa came in third place (30.51 mins).

Morocco further sealed their superiority on the night in the 10km race for the open women’s category with Rokia Al Moqim winning top place with a time of 34.37 minutes, followed by another Moroccan Wafaa Zeroual (35.19 mins), while Belgium’s Liesbeth Verheyden came in third with a time of 35.45 minutes.

The runners from Morocco further asserted their supremacy in the shorter distance as well with Hamid Al Moalla winning the 5km national men’s category in a time of 15.41 minutes, followed by Abdullah Al Hadrami in second place (15.55 mins) and Mahmoud Saleh Al Naqbi in third (16.05).

In the 5km race for the open men’s category, Moroccan Amin Souida won first place (14.45 mins), followed by Kenyan Victor Kiprono Korir (15.08 mins), and Uganda’s Guido Grace Okadabau in third (15.16 mins).

Hessa Al Jasmi won first place for national women with a time of 23.48 minutes, followed by Hamda Al Ali (24.08 mins) and Fatima Saeed Juma Saeed in third (25.00 mins).

The 5km race for the open women’s category was won by Poland’s Emilia Mangilinan in a quick time of 22.11 minutes, followed by Morocco’s Wiam Al Fathi (22.13 mins) and Russia’s Alisa Petrova (22.18 mins).

Frenchman Jean-Claude Haramburi claimed the top spot in the 5km senior citizens and residents race in a time of 16.58 minutes, followed by Moroccan Mubarak Rayhan (18.32 mins), and Emirati Salem Atiq Saeed Al Muhairi (19.36 mins).