Dubai: Thailand and the UAE opened their campaigns with contrasting wins on the opening day of the Seventh Fazza International Wheelchair Basketball Tournament being played at Al Ahli Club.
Thailand secured a narrow 85-83 win over Egypt, while the hosts underlined their status as strong title contenders by powering to an emphatic 63-48 victory over Oman.
Held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council (DSC), the annual competition got under way with an impressive opening ceremony.
In his opening remarks, Mohammad Mohammad Fadel Al Hamli, Chairman of the UAE Disabled Sports Federation and Member of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), stressed that such international competitions play a key role in raising the levels of sports in the country.
“We are confident that this tournament will continue its emergence as one of the most popular disabled championships in the region and the world,” Al Hamli said.
Thani Juma Berregad, Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee, Majid Abdullah Al Usaimi, Tournament Director, and other top officials were present at the opening ceremony.
The UAE is joined by Thailand, Australia, Morocco, Germany, Egypt, Oman and Kuwait in the competition. Egypt, Thailand, Morocco and Australia have been put in Group A, while Group B consists of Germany, Oman, Kuwait and the hosts.
The top two teams in each group will qualify for Tuesday’s semi-finals, with the winners meeting in the final and the losers meeting in the third-place play-off.
