Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
The secondary phase of the second season of UAE University Games has begun and will run till February 12, following a first phase that delivered strong competition and high technical standards.
The opening phase between October 13 and November 27 featured 156 teams playing 322 matches across three core sports, underlining the continued growth of university sport in the UAE.
It produced standout performances from the University of Sharjah, American University in Dubai, American University of Sharjah, New York University Abu Dhabi, and Rochester Institute of Technology, all of whom signalled their intent ahead of the later stages of the championship.
Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Undersecretary for the Sports Development and Competitiveness Sector at the Ministry of Sports said: “The intensity of matches and high competitive standards reflect the development of the university sports experience in the UAE, the growing engagement of universities with the championship and increased awareness among students of the importance of sports,” he said.
As Chairman of the UAE Sports Federation for School and University Education Institutions, Sheikh Suhail added: “We are proud of the technical and organisational standards demonstrated, and we trust in the abilities of our students to deliver outstanding performances in the upcoming stages.
“This reinforces the importance of the University Games as a national platform for discovering and developing talent, promoting an active lifestyle, and building a sustainable sports base that serves the future of Emirati sports by supplying national teams with promising talent, in line with the National Sports Strategy 2031.”
A further break is scheduled until April 19, ahead of the qualifying play-offs, with the quarter-finals and semi-finals set for April 20–30. The finals will be held on May 2 and 3.
The number of participating universities has risen from 28 to 47 – a 68% increase – while student participation is up by around 50%. The match programme has grown from 380 games to more than 700 this year.
The competition programme includes six championships for men and women across football, basketball and volleyball, as well as the introduction of obstacle course racing.
