Abu Dhabi
It’s being billed as the biggest bowling tournament in recent times. With over 140 participants including the best Emirati talent, top professionals and amateurs and a prizemoney of Dh145,000, the NDC Ramadan Bowling tournament at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi promises to showcase the best in Emirati bowling talent.
But it’s not just the prizemoney that is up for grabs. With Abu Dhabi set to host the World Tenpin Bowling Men’s Championship from December 4-15, the Ramadan competition is a prime opportunity for UAE men’s team bowlers to prove their worth as members of the World Championship squad. Beyond the men’s team, with the World Youth Championships taking place in Hong Kong in August, this tournament will also be the UAE youth team’s last competitive appearance before they vie for the major title.
Maria Gedeon, head of marketing at Zayed Sports City told XPRESS: “There are bowlers from 10 nationalities from various GCC countries taking part. But since this is such a crucial event in terms of national team selection, 90 per cent of the participants are Emiratis, including several women bowlers.”
Among the top Emirati bowlers are Hong Kong Open champion Hussein Al Suwaidi and Bahrain World Tour champion Shaker al Hassan. British female youth bowling prodigy Samantha Hannan is also in the fray. They will be joined by reigning champion Sayed Ibrahim, whose average score of 246.2 propelled him to victory in last year’s contest. In the graded division, league bowlers from around the emirates are expected to participate, using the talent around them to improve their play.
Matches will be held in three divisions, youth, open and amateur. Women can take part in any division depending on their handicap. “This is a tournament that the top bowlers have earmarked in their calendar very early in the year. The response from professional bowlers has been amazing and we expect the best to be arriving in the latter stages of the tournament,” Maria said.
The tournament began on June 24 and the top finisher will be going home with a cool Dh35,000 on July 23. Matches will be held from 9pm to 3am at Khalifa International Bowling Centre inside Zayed Sports City.
