UAE, Kuwait, Iraq qualify for 2014 Asian Paralympic Games in S Korea

DUBAI- The 6th Fazza International Wheelchair Basketball – IWBF West Asian Championship 2014 concluded at the Al Ahli Club in Dubai, with Kuwait narrowly edging past Iraq in a thrilling finale 42-41.

The UAE trounced KSA 71-44 and will join Iraq and Kuwait at the Asian Paralympic Games in South Korea in October later this year.

The 6th Fazza International Wheelchair Basketball – IWBF West Asian Championships were 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 were held as part of the IWBF West Asian Championship this year.

A presentation ceremony was held the previous day which witnessed the organisers exchange mementos with the qualifying teams.

Majid Abdullah Al Usaimi, Championship Director said: “We would like to congratulate Kuwait and the UAE on their spectacular wins and we are confident they will do their respective countries proud at the Asian Paralympic Games in Incheon.

“This tournament would not have been possible without the support and vision of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai who believes in promoting sports for the disabled. We will be supporting the UAE team with wheelchairs and training programs leading up to the Games in Incheon.”

UAE coach Ahmed Jassim said: “We dedicate this win to the leaders of the UAE and HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai who has supported this tournament from the very start. Players are looking forward to the Asian Paralympic Games in Incheon and will be training hard in the coming months.”

Five players were awarded ‘elite champions’ at the closing ceremony, including Ala’a Al Baydani from Iraq, Thamir Mandeer from Iraq, Fahad Douayran from KSA, Tariq Ali Abdallah from the UAE and Yousuf Nasir from Kuwait. Mohammed Al Gharib from Kuwait was awarded the best player of the tournament.

Thani Juma Berregad, chairman of the Dubai Club for the Disabled and head of the organising committee for the Fazza Championships for the Disabled added: “We would like to congratulate the UAE for coming this far despite challenges along the way, including being short of players and having a limited preparation time.

Abdullah Hamdan Bin Dalmook, CEO Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center added: “The performance of the players has been outstanding this year. This is nowhere near the levels we witnessed four years ago when the Championships were in their infancy. This is the fastest growing international championship from among the Fazza tournaments and we hope to see even stronger participation next year.”

The 6th Fazza International Wheelchair Basketball – IWBF West Asian Championship 2014 successfully hosted a total of 170 athletes and officials from eight countries including host nation the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

Results:

UAE beats KSA 71-44

Kuwait beats Iraq 42-41