Sharjah: Sharjah Sports Club for Women scored a convincing win on the first day of volleyball at the Arab Women’s Sports Tournament 2018 (AWST), defeating Oman’s Sahar Club 3-0 sets.
In the first set, Sharjah players forced the Oman team into some early errors both in defence and attack, although Sahar showed plenty of resolve, keeping the game close but running out of steam as Sharjah started to pull away with a 12-10 lead and then closing the set out with a score of 25-18.
The second set was a show of stamina and strength of character, as the score levelled at 10-10, 11-11 and 12-12 in the first half but Sharjah began to run away with the game, eventually posting a score of 25-14.
The hosts were not so lucky though in basketball, where they stayed in the fight till the end before going down 70-66 to Al Fuhays team from Jordan in an absorbing match.
The Jordanians took a formidable early lead, finishing the first quarter 22-10. The Sharjah Sports ladies regained their footing and reduced the difference to one point by the end of the third quarters. However, the seasoned Al Fuhays team managed to cling on in the dying minutes to just keep Sharjah at arm’s length.
The Al Fatat team from Kuwait has had their first taste of victory in the AWST basketball event with a comprehensive 82-55 win over Jeddah United. The match saw Kuwait compensate for their loss in the first round having been beaten by Sporting Team from Egypt, while Jeddah United maintain their losing streak following defeat on the opening day against the Sharjah Sports ladies 30-90.
The second round of the preliminary phase was completed with an inspiring display by Bahrain’s Al Mawaheb, who snuffed the challenge of Somalia’s Mogadishu team 76-58.
The teams have an off day and resume play on Wednesday where Al Fatat are up against Al Mawaheb from Bahrain; Jeddah United play Al Fuhays from Jordan — one of the favourites to win the title and the Mogadishu club from Somalia take on Egypt’s Sporting Team.
