Abu Dhabi girls storm to success

There’s a certain spark in Abu Dhabi Storms skipper Fatema Al Qubaisi’s voice as she speaks about the recent accomplishment of her team.

It’s understandable especially after achieving a feat which they were yearning for at least for quite for a while now.

The Abu Dhabi Storms ladies ice hockey team trounced defending champions WIHO Saits of Hong Kong to emerge the champions in the Hong Kong Mega 5’s Open Women’s tournament.

“It’s a big achievement for our team,” Al Qubaisi said. “We have really worked hard for this and we were confident,” she added.

The team

The Abu Dhabi Storms ladies team beat defending champions WIHO Saints 7-2 in the final of the Hong Kong Hockey 5’s Champions.

The predominantly Emirati squad, who train just twice weekly at the Zayed Sports City Ice Rink, went into the continental tournament a completely different side from last year when they finished third, and were taking part in just their third international competition.

This time, after undergoing intensive training in April, they were able to collect wins over the Hong Kong WIHO Angels (5-0), and Bravo (3-0) as well as Japan’s Japanada (4-0).

In the semi-finals, they beat Australian side Southern Stars 4-1. In the final against Hong Kong side WIHO Saints, the Emiratis side won handsomely despite playing with injured goalkeeper Kamilla Nielsen, thanks to a brace from Katarina Nielsen, and goals from Latifa Al Suwaidi, Fatima Al Ali, captain Fatima Al Qubaisi, Marie L. Henriksen and Dana Al Hosani.

Team manager Ruwaida Othman told Sport360°: “We had intensive training for more than one month and were at the rink almost every single night. We got more training time in because the men’s team had some tournaments to play in South Africa.

“The [WIHO Saints] beat us last year, and the year before that it was an even worse beating, but this year we got over that, thank goodness,” she added.

In the semi-finals, they beat Australian side Southern Stars 4-1. In the final against Hong Kong side WIHO Saints, the Emiratis side won handsomely despite playing with injured goalkeeper Kamilla Nielsen, thanks to a brace from Katarina Nielsen, and goals from Latifa Al Suwaidi, Fatima Al Ali, captain Fatima Al Qubaisi, Marie L. Henriksen and Dana Al Hosani.

Team manager Ruwaida Othman told Sport360°: “We had intensive training for more than one month and were at the rink almost every single night. We got more training time in because the men’s team had some tournaments to play in South Africa.

“The [WIHO Saints] beat us last year, and the year before that it was an even worse beating, but this year we got over that, thank goodness,” she added.