Thrilling soccer, volleyball matches and youth activities mark fifth day of Kalba Sports Festival

The inaugural edition of Kalba Sports Festival continued to deliver an exciting mix of sporting competitions and community activities on its fifth day, with football, volleyball, physical fitness challenges and electronic gaming among the highlights of Tuesday's programme.

Held under the patronage of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, the festival runs from November 6 to 14 under the slogan "Live the Competition… Enjoy the Experience".

The football competition witnessed an entertaining 3-3 draw between Shabab RAK and Al Ood in a Group A encounter. Ali Sfaio scored twice for Shabab RAK, with Taysir Marai adding the third goal, while Ahmed Rashid struck twice and Zuhair Issa scored once for Al Ood.

In the other Group A fixture, Al Humaidi produced an impressive attacking display to defeat the Sharjah Civil Defence Authority 8-3. Flavio Al Zain led the winners with a hat-trick, while Muhannad bin Ali, Mohammed Khalfan, Al Sayed Mohammed and Abdullah Abdul Razzaq also got on the scoresheet. Shaheen Suroor, Abdullah Al Hosani and Abdullah Abdul Majeed scored for the Civil Defence side.

The volleyball competition also provided plenty of excitement, with Al Badawi Al Zahmi overcoming MIH 3-2 in a closely contested match. The Teachers Association team, meanwhile, secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over UAIX.

Beyond the main competitions, the festival continued to offer a range of activities aimed at encouraging participation and recognising young talent

Dr Saif Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Organising Committee, honoured the winners of the Fitness Challenge in the junior category, with Amna Mohammed Al Zaabi receiving the gold medal and Fatima Yousef Al Marashda also recognised.

The Eastern Region Talented Council, in collaboration with the festival, also organised a workshop titled "Towards a Creative and Inspiring Generation".

Attended by Dr Saif Ahmed Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Festival's Higher Committee, along with committee heads, parents and students, the workshop focused on the importance of nurturing gifted individuals, developing creative abilities and promoting innovation among younger generations.

The session also highlighted the importance of identifying emerging talents and providing them with opportunities to develop their skills, helping prepare a generation capable of creativity, excellence and contributing to the future.

The PlayStation electronic gaming qualifiers continued, while the challenge zone attracted visitors with a variety of recreational games and activities.