Dubai: The bowling competition will kick-start the Fourth Shaikha Hind Women’s Sports Tournament at the Dubai International Bowling Centre in Al Mamzar from Wednesday.

Bowling is the latest discipline added to the already existing eight sporting competitions held during the previous three editions of this annual tournament by the Dubai Sports Council (DSC).

Organised by the DSC Women and Sports Committee under the patronage of Shaikha Hind Bint Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum, Wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, this year’s tournament will witness a substantial increase in prize money from the existing Dh380,000 to Dh600,000 for all nine sports.

After the bowling on Wednesday, the chess will be conducted at the Dubai Chess and Culture Club in Al Mamzar on October 20 followed by the road run at the Al Khawaneej track on October 21. The cycling race will be up next at the Nad Al Sheba track on October 22 followed by the team sports of basketball, volleyball and handball at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from October 25. The badminton will also be held at DWTC on October 26 before the swimming competition at the Al Wasl Club pool concludes on October 28.

The annual competition is being organised in an attempt to bring together employees from government and semi-government entities and inculcate a healthy lifestyle among them.

The tournament has grown substantially in the past three years with 166 women from 13 departments participating in the first year, going up to 260 participants representing 16 departments in 2014, and to more than 400 women from 20 departments in 2015.

Meanwhile, Moza Al Merri, Board Member, DSC and Chairperson of the Women’s Sports Committee at DSC welcomed DP World as the latest to join the sponsors’ list for the annual tournament.

“This year we have 16 sponsors joining us in this event that seeks to celebrate womanhood through various sporting activities. This is clear evidence of not just the status of this tournament but also a backing for women to grow in the professional sphere,” Al Merri said.

Among the sponsors are Dubai Refreshments Company, Dahmani Jewellery, Medeor Hospital, Dubai Sports Channel, Dubai Women’s Establishment, adidas, Al Marai, Dubai Sports Stars Academy, Pocari Sweat and Ronaldo Spago among others.

The organising committee held a workshop at the DSC premises on Monday to explain all technical rules and regulations to team managers and coaches. Fawzia Faraidoon, Tournament Director urged women from various sectors to attend matches and competitions over the next few days and lend their support to such a tournament for the empowerment of women in the UAE.