Dubai: Bowlers from the Dubai Public Prosecution (DPP) team dominated but it was Dubai Municipality bowler Hernina Lozano who clinched individual honours at the end of the bowling competition as the Fourth Shaikha Hind Women’s Sports Tournament got under way on Wednesday.
The DPP trio of Sakina Aziz Karam, Afra Mehaer and Jawaher Obaid Al Shamsi came up with a fine show to sweep away second, third and fourth places in the standings and lift the team title. But the three bowlers could do very little in stopping Dubai Municipality’s Filipina bowler Lozano from taking the individual honours.
Lozano finished at the top of the standings with a total of 390 following visits of 165, 113 and 112 in the three allocated games, while Karam followed in second with a score of 356, Mehaer in third with 351 and teammate Al Shamsi in fourth just three pins away (348). Joining the trio’s scores were teammates Shamma Esmail, Aziza Mohammad and Asma Yaqoot.
However, that push at the top was enough for the DPP squad to walk away with the overall title with a cumulative total of 1,472 pinfalls, leaving the fancied Dubai Police team of Fatma Abdullah Juma, Mariam Saeed, Ruqaya Ahmad, Shaima Mohammad and Amina Ali Hussain in second place with a total of 1,360. The host team of Dubai Sports Council (DSC) consisting of Amina Al Khalidy, Hamda Al Sheh’hi, Amna Al Beloushi, Medya Al Suwaidi and Fatma Belhoul took the third and final spot on the podium with a total of 1,288.
“We are forever thankful for the support we received from our department at every stage so that we could shine as the best team in bowling. Now with this achievement we hope we can excel in other sport as well and take the overall crown at the end of the tournament,” DPP captain Huda Al Noobi told Gulf News.
Making her debut in bowling and coming away with the champion’s medal, Lozano was over the moon. “I am so excited with this title, especially because this is the first time ever that I participated in a bowling tournament,” said the lifeguards’ supervisor at Dubai Municipality.
“I do so many other sports such as road running, basketball, volleyball, swimming and cycling, and to win for the first time in bowling is so much satisfying. I am keen to just go on participating in the remaining events so that Dubai Municipality can walk away with the overall championships,” she added.
Organised by the Women and Sports Committee of the DSC under the patronage of Her Highness Shaikha Hind Bint Maktoum Bint Juma Al Maktoum, Wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, this year’s tournament has an increased prize fund of Dh600,000 in nine sports disciplines.
After Wednesday’s bowling competition, teams were scheduled to participate in the chess competition to be held at the Dubai Chess and Culture Club in Al Mamzar on Thursday followed by the road race at the Al Khawaneej track on Friday.
RESULTS:
Individual competition: 1. Hernina Lozano (Dubai Municipality — 390 points); 2. Sakina Aziz Karam (Dubai Public Prosecution — 356); 3. Afra Mehaer (DPP — 351); 4. Jawaher Obaid Al Shamsi (DPP — 348); 5. Fatma Belhoul (Dubai Sports Council — 347).
Teams competition: 1. Dubai Public Prosecution (1,472 points); 2. Dubai Police (1,360); 3. Dubai Sports Council (1,288); 4. Roads and Transport Authority (1,223); 5. Dubai Municipality (1,211).
