One of UAE’s largest inter-university sports festivals concluded on a high note with grand awards ceremony at the Gulf Medical University (GMU) campus. Popularly known as Gulf Medical University Sports Festival, the event brings together more than 2,000 students from 25 universities across the seven emirates. Now in its 21st edition, the week-long festival scaled new heights with more competitors than ever before.
Universities battled it out to achieve top spots in sports such as football, cricket, throwball (only girls), basketball, volleyball along with indoor games such as chess, badminton and table tennis. Prof Hossam Hamdy, Chancellor, Gulf Medical University, was the chief guest of the closing ceremony, which was held in the presence of members of the academic leadership team of GMU, faculty/staff members and students from various colleges. All participants were awarded certificates of participation.
Professor Hossam Hamdy, Chancellor of Gulf Medical University, says, “The landmark annual event hosted by us is always much anticipated by the student community not just for goals and winning trophies but for the warm camaraderie among the students at the campus. It takes many hands and lots of effort to organise a sporting extravaganza of this magnitude, but at the Gulf Medical University it becomes easy as the entire faculty, staff and students works in tandem with the passion to make this sports fest successful and glorious year after year.”
Over 2,000 students from 25 universities/colleges in the UAE competed in the event, which was hosted by Body & Soul Health Club & Spa- the leading network of health clubs operated by the Hospitality Division of Thumbay Group. In football, University of Wollongong won first place for the boys, while Herriot Watt University secured the first position among the girls'teams. In cricket, De Montfort University won the first place for boys, while GMU stood first in girls.
In volleyball, Success Point College won the first place in boys, while the RAK Medical University ranked first in girls. In basketball, University of Sharjah won the first place for both boys and girls. In throw-ball, GMU girls outplayed the rest to secure the first prize. In badminton, BITS Pilani won the first place in boys while America University of Sharjah secured the first position in girls. In table tennis, University of Sharjah won the first place in boys, while the University of Wollongong stood first in girls. In chess, BITS Pilani won the first place in boys, while the University of Sharjah ranked first in girls.
The grand sports event is held each year keeping in view the philosophy of GMU - Healthy Body for a Healthy Mind - and to instill the spirit of sportsmanship and healthy competition among students. The event has been helpful in engaging the student community in the UAE and empowering them with the spirit of sportsmanship, inter-professional teamwork and wellness.
