Sharjah's judo stars shine at Arab championship in Amman

Sharjah 24

15-04-2025

The UAE was represented by ten female athletes in both the junior and youth categories, coming from Sharjah Women's Sports Club and Kalba Women's Sports Club, both affiliated with the Foundation. Their efforts led to an impressive medal tally of ten individual medals—four gold, four silver, and two bronze. In the team competitions, the UAE secured the first-place trophy in the junior category, an additional trophy for medal count in the same category, and the second-place trophy in the youth category.
Integration in action: sports and development united
This sporting success is a direct result of the strategic collaboration between the Sharjah Women's Sports Foundation and Sharjah Children's Centres, which operate under the umbrella of the Rubu' Qarn Foundation for Creating Future Leaders and Innovators. The partnership flourished through the sports incubator programme, which offers a collaborative model for nurturing young female talent. Its core goals include instilling a culture of sport in early childhood, introducing Olympic disciplines, and building a strong foundation for identifying and developing future champions capable of competing on larger stages.
The programme, launched in 2022, also includes the participation of Sajaya Young Ladies of Sharjah, providing age-appropriate technical support and supervision for selected sports. It aims to familiarise girls in Sharjah with a variety of sports and raise community awareness about the benefits of making sport a consistent and healthy lifestyle choice.
Hanan Al Mahmoud, Vice Chairperson of the Sharjah Women's Sports Foundation, spoke about the strategic vision behind the achievement:
"Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi's vision emphasises youth empowerment through coordinated institutional efforts to achieve long-term development. What we have achieved today reflects that strategy. We extend our gratitude to Sharjah Children's Centres, part of Rubu' Qarn Foundation, for their valued partnership and thank the team for their exceptional work."
Khawla Al Haway, Director of Sharjah Children's Centres, highlighted the importance of institutional integration:
"This achievement is the result of a vision grounded in coordinated efforts. What we witnessed at the championship is a testament to the power of joint action among institutions committed to girl empowerment in Sharjah—from early development to podium success. Our girls' victory is not accidental; it's the outcome of sustained investment in care, training, and empowerment."
Mey Al Amri, Deputy Director of Sharjah Women's Sports Club, added:
"This Arab achievement is a reflection of the fruitful collaboration between Sharjah Children's Centres and Sharjah Women's Sports Foundation. It showcases the development of women's sports in the UAE. We dedicate this win to the nation and fully believe in our athletes' ability to continue excelling."
Medal glory: results that speak volumes
The medal count is a reflection of both the athletes' dedication and the quality of coaching and preparation. UAE athletes made a strong impression across various weight classes. Standout performances from Kalba Women's Sports Club included:
• Gold medals:
o Khawla Al Ansari (Youth, -52 kg)
o Somayya Ahmed Al Baroot (Junior, -52 kg)
o Hour Youssef Al Marashdeh (Junior, -57 kg)
o Hessa Abdullah Al Zaabi (Junior, +70 kg)
• Silver medals:
o Maryam Al Ali (Youth, -32 kg)
o Dana Ali Khamis (Junior, -40 kg)
From Sharjah Women's Sports Club, the following medals were earned:
• Silver medals:
o Reem Ismail (Youth, -40 kg)
o Mira Ahmed Ibrahim (Junior, -57 kg)
• Bronze medals:
o Alyazia Humaid Al Naqbi (Junior, -40 kg)
o Aisha Issa (Youth, -52 kg)
Building a generation: youth investment pays off
This participation highlights the strategic importance of investing in young talent as a foundation for building a generation of women athletes capable of regional and international success. The achievement also serves as a successful model for how partnerships between institutions focusing on childhood development and sport can create a nurturing, high-performance environment—one that turns young potential into medal-winning excellence.