Dubai: Seven teams will contest against the hosts at the eighth Fazza International Wheelchair Basketball Tournament 2016, to be held at Al Ahli Club’s indoor hall from April 24-29.
Organised under the banner of the Fazza Championships and with sanction from the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF), the annual competition will see the UAE national squad compete against teams from Japan, Kuwait, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and newcomers Great Britain and the Philippines.
The championship was announced by Thani Juma Berregad, Chairman, Dubai Club for the Disabled and Chairman, Organising Committee, in the presence of Tournament Director Majid Abdullah Al Usaimi, Hamad Beljafla, Head of the Public Relations Committee, and Ahmad Hassan Al Hammadi, Chairman, Technical Committee.
“Dubai has come to be known the world over as one of the top sporting destinations for disabled sports. Much of this credit should go to Shaikh Hamdan [Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council] as he has personally involved himself in these competitions while challenging us to [reach] greater heights,” Berregad told media.
“The demand from outstation teams is so huge that we are in the process of expanding this competition to ten or 12 teams from next year, but a final decision will be taken and known at a later date,” he added. Germany won the title last year.
The UAE squad has been training for the past week in an attempt to be among the serious contenders for the crown. “The emphasis is always on diversity as we try to invite teams from various continents. The UAE team has been training twice a day and we want this tournament to be a part of their preparation for the Gulf Wheelchair Championships to be held in December [in Dubai],” Berregad said.
Al Usaimi said the participation of Thailand at the event last year opened their eyes to the popularity of wheelchair basketball among spectators. “Through this experience we decided to invite teams from the Philippines and Great Britain so that spectators can come and be part of this sporting event,” the tournament director said.
As per the format of competition, there will be four preliminary round matches starting at 9am daily from Sunday. The play-offs will commence from April 27 and the final will be played from 7pm on April 28.
