Jawaher Al Qasimi selected Sports Personality of the Year

Sharjah (WAM): Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has been selected the 'Sport Personality of the Year', Ibrahim Abdul Malik, Secretary-General of the Public Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare, announced in a press conference to unveil details of the 8th grand ceremony to honour sports champions in 2013. Abdul Malik said that Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health, will be honoured for his outstanding contributions to the sports when he was Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development. The ceremony will be held on 15th April under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs at the National Theatre in Abu Dhabi. He disclosed that the grant for top sports achievers was raised to Dh 25 million to cope with the increase in the number of honorees to 492 including 30 players, 12 local and international referees, 27 sports federations and associations. UAE sportsmen won 190 gold medals, 100 silver medals and 99 bronze medals in 2013. ''The glittering honouring ceremony is a tribute to all those who raise the UAE flag aloft at international sports championships, embodying the spirit of loyalty and belonging to their homeland. These achievements bring political leaders and people closer as the celebration is held in implementation of instructions given by the wise leadership led by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan,'' he added. Sheikha Jawaher, Abdul Malik noted, was named Sports Personality of the UAE for her leading, constructive and active role in serving and advancing the sports, especially women's sports. Mother of the Nation HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women Union and of the Family Development Foundation took the title last year. As an avid sports woman and supporter of sports activities in Sharjah, Sheikha Jawaher launched the first sports championship for GCC girls in 1997 In 1994 she founded the table tennis team, basketball team and the volleyball team for the UAE. Her love of sports has sparked the creation of many events like the GCC Women's Sports Tournament. She obtained woman and sports achievement diploma in 2003 from the International Olympic Committee. ''A proposal to award gold medals and prizes in the name of the State to sports stars is in the final stage of study and might see light shortly,'' he said. A documentary on sports achievers was screened during the press conference. Among the top achievers to be honoured were Rashid Mattar Al Dhaheri who won 9 gold and silver medals and Sara Al Zarounie who bagged two gold medals. – Emirates News Agency, WAM