As the volleyball tournament at the ongoing 7th edition of the Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST 2024) comes to a close, the focus shines on an exciting struggle for glory between Egypt’s Sporting and their Kuwaiti rivals, Salwa Alsabah.
Both sides, who have displayed outstanding talents and resilience throughout the competition, are prepared to compete for the ultimate prize, setting the stage for a thrilling match that promises to capture sports fans and honor the spirit of women’s sports in the Arab world.
The Khorfakkan Club, situated along the picturesque eastern coast of the emirate, is set to be the venue for the tournament’s concluding volleyball matches on Monday. The action starts with a fiercely contested match for the bronze medal, featuring the Sharjah Women’s Sports Club up against Lebanon’s Byblos.
This will set the stage for the grand finale, where the champions of the tournament’s seventh edition will be decided. The final clash between Sporting and Salwa Alsabah is eagerly awaited, with both teams having showcased remarkable skill and determination throughout the preliminary rounds, quarterfinals, and semi-finals. Their impressive performances have led to high expectations and strong predictions for their success, stirring anticipation since the tournament’s outset, especially as they were placed in separate groups during the preliminary stages.
Sporting was in Group A, which included UAE’s Fatima bint Mubarak Academy UAE, Iraq’s Akkad Ankawa, and Lebanon’s Byblos, while Salwa Alsabah was in Group B alongside Sharjah Women’s Sports Club, Syrian Taldara SC, and Jordan’s De La Salle.
Both teams advanced to the final match deservedly and with distinction, overcoming the semi-final hurdle with excellence. Sporting won against Sharjah Women’s Sports with a clean sweep of three sets (25-22, 25-17, 25-8), while Salwa Alsabah struggled to secure their win against Byblos Lebanon with a score of (3-2), after a marathon match that stretched to five sets, with scores of (25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 11-25, 16-14).
Sunday’s schedule was packed with placement matches for positions 5 through 8, showcasing the competitive spirit of the participating teams. In the fight for the seventh position, Taldara SC emerged victorious over Fatima bint Mubarak Academy with a final tally of 3-1. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions and skill, with Fatima bint Mubarak Academy initially taking the lead by winning the first set 25-17. However, the resilience of the Syrian team shone through as they bounced back to win the subsequent sets 26-24, 25-23, and 25-22, securing the seventh spot and relegating Fatima bint Mubarak Academy to eighth place.
The battle for fifth place was equally intense, with Akkad Ankawa securing a well-deserved victory against De La Salle, concluding the match with a score of 3-1. Despite losing the first set 21-25, Iraqi players persevered to win the next three sets 25-23, 25-16, and 25-19. This victory awarded them the fifth position, while De La Salle was left to settle for the sixth.
