Dubai: Riyad Mahrez, the Algerian striker and who was part of Leicester’s fairytale English Premier League triumph this season, was a surprise guest on the opening day of Nad Al Sheba (NAS) Ramadan Sports Tournament on Tuesday.
Mahrez, who is in Dubai on a personal visit, attended the opening ceremony after which the tournament was formally opened by Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President, UAE National Olympic Committee (UAE NOC) in the presence of Mattar Al Tayer, Deputy Chairman, Dubai Sports Council (DSC), Ebrahim Abdul Malik, General Secretary, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare (GAYSW), Shaikh Hasher Al Maktoum, President, Tennis Emirates and Saeed Hareb, General Secretary, DSC.
Meanwhile, Nawaf Khalfan scored four goals as the UAE Whites secured a 4-2 win over the UAE Reds in the exhibition Goalball match that marked the opening of the fourth edition of Tournament at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex on June 7.
Trailing 1-2 at half-time, Khalfan’s goals that made all the difference as the Whites settled for an easy 4-2 win in the end. The Goalball was an exhibition match conducted in keeping with this year’s theme of ‘Limitless Abilities’.
The actual competitions commenced on Wednesday with the preliminary group matches of the volleyball tournament, which will run till June 15.
“This event fits in just right with what our leaders are aiming at as the UAE climbs up the happiness index. Ramadan is a time for giving and through this sports festival, we have people from all walks of life including UAE nationals come together as one sporting community,” Hareb told Gulf News.
“Once again, in keeping with the wishes of Shaikh Hamdan, we have added new sports for special needs persons including Goalball and Deaf Football along with the Wheelchair Basketball. This event has grown in just three years and I am confident that this year too we have a wonderful series of competitions that will bring the entire community together,” he added.
Marwan Bin Galita, President, UAE Football Association (UAE FA) was pleased with the continuation of futsal as part of the annual event.
“We support this event as it helps sustain and grow futsal in the UAE. We have been hosting some of the best futsal players from across the world during this competition, and this can only help our national team,” Bin Galita said.
Meanwhile, both teams representing the Real Racquet Academy got off to a winning start in the teams padel competition. The Real Racquet 1 team defeated Team Caged 1 6-3, 6-4 and the second team beat Team Caged-2, 6-0, 6-2. The men’s contest also got under way with Emilio Misas and Pedro Rios powering their way to a 6-1, 6-1 win over Mohammad Al Mansouri and Xavier Masson.
Held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council (DSC), there are seven sporting disciplines in this year’s tournament including Futsal, Volleyball, a 10km Road Run, a 75km Cycling Race, Wheelchair Basketball, Archery, Goalball and Deaf Football boasting a total prize fund of Dhs8 million.
