Iraq to confront Kuwait in finals of Fazza International Wheelchair Basketball tournament
DUBAI- Kuwait and Iraq, both strong contenders to go up to the Asian Paralympic Games in South Korea in October 2014, qualified for the finals of the 6th Fazza International Wheelchair Basketball – IWBF West Asian Championship 2014 at the Al Ahli Club in Dubai.
KSA battled it out with Iraq in a closely fought contest in the first half but eventually succumbed 29-62. UAE locked horns with Kuwait in a nail-biting game, but lost 47-52.
Three teams will win the opportunity to represent their country at the Asian Paralympic Games in Incheon at the end of the finals tomorrow. The UAE still stands a chance to earn a spot if it wins against KSA tomorrow.
The 6th Fazza International Wheelchair Basketball – IWBF West Asian Championship is organised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center and the Dubai Club for the Disabled under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and is part of the IWBF West Asian Championship this year.
Maureen Orchard, president IWBF who was present at the venue said: “We are very impressed with the level of the Championship and with Dubai’s ability to host world class sporting events. Teams have displayed professional levels of sportsmanship and we have seen that they are open to learning from the teams at the top. I see this tournament emerging as the front runner of growth for wheelchair basketball in the region.”
A total of 170 athletes and officials from eight countries are participating in the Championship including host nation the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
Ibrahim Abdul Rahim, director of events at Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center said: “We were happy to host all teams in Dubai and look forward to an exciting contest tomorrow.”
Ahmed Mohammed Al Hamamdi, head of the technical committee of the Championships added: “Since the first edition of Fazza Wheelchair Basketball Championships, we have strived to develop the competition from all angles – encouraging regional participation and incorporating modern facilities to maintain the high level of the sport.
“Under the leadership of Thani Juma Berregad, head of the organising committee for the Fazza Championships, we were able to successfully take the Championships to a new level and prove our capability as a host country.
“On the technical side we have incorporated three IPC-accredited courses for the judges, classifiers and trainers and have appointed judges from the region and international classification experts who have contributed to making this tournament a truly world class event.”
With ranks awarded to the bottom four teams, Oman which came in the 5th place will play Syria which came in the 6th place in a friendly game tomorrow. Jordan which came in the 7th place will play Palestine which came in 8th place in a friendly game tomorrow. Meanwhile, the finals between Iraq and Kuwait will be held at 8pm on 14 May 2014 at the Al Ahli Club.
Results:
Kuwait beat KSA 65 -47
Oman beat Palestine 55-33
Syria beat Jordan 56-50
Iraq beat KSA 62-29
Kuwait beat UAE 52-47
