Dubai: Shaikha Shamsa Bint Hasher Bin Mana Al Maktoum, the UAE Volleyball Association (VA) board of directors' member, said she was planning to form the first UAE ladies' national volleyball team.
The announcement came soon after the first UAE ladies' league got under way with the participation of five teams.
"After launching the first Hydra Ladies' League, we will now form the first national ladies' team to represent UAE in the regional, Arab, Asian tournaments," said Shaikha Shamsa.
Shaikha Shamsa said players from the participating clubs in the current league will be selected for the national team.
"Players from Al Shabab, Al Wasl and Al Ain, who are taking part in the league, will be a strong base for the national team. I hope other UAE clubs will form ladies' volleyball teams to join the association and play in the ladies' league to widen the selection base for the national team."
Five teams are participating in the ladies' league that started last Friday: Al Wasl, Al Shabab, Al Ain, Al Ahli and the American University in Dubai. The five teams play a round robin league on home-and-away basis. The winners get two points and the losers one point.
The VA ladies' league committee decided to allow registration of players from all nationalities for the league.
In the first set of matches held last Friday, Al Wasl, playing at home, beat Al Ahli 3-1 (23-25, 25-14, 25-18, 25-15). Al Shabab, at their home venue, beat the American University 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-15).
Teams
Teams: Al Wasl: Nadia Ali, Somaya Qasim, Kaltham Rahma, Widad Jasem, Ebtisam Obaid, Mona Haydar, Asma Ahmad, Fatima Fahd, Alia Mohammad, Fatima Ali (All from UAE), Salma and Sara Hassan (Iran), Hadir Esam and Samah Fareed (Egypt). Coach: Azza Taha (Egypt).
Al Shabab: Aysha Abdullah, Amal Abdul Mohsin, Fatima Mohammad, Maitha Hassan, Alia Nasser, Fatima Hassan, Noora Ahmad (All from UAE), Maisa Ali, Khadija Abdul Rahman (Syria), Asma Al Robaee (Tunisia), Linda Kamil (Lebanon), Najiba Ahmad (Egypt), Suhad Ali (Jordan), Olga Solz (Russia).
Coach: Nada Kamil (Lebanon).
