Shaikha Hayat elected OCA panel chairwoman

Manama, Mar. 3 (BNA): Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) board member and chairwoman of the Bahrain Women’s Sport Committee Shaikha Hayat bint Abdul Aziz Al Khalifa was elected chairwoman of the Olympic Council of Asia’s (OCA) Women’s Sport Committee, announced on Sunday. The decision was taken at the OCA General Assembly held in Bangkok, headed by Shaikh Ahmad Al Sabah. The election was in recognition of Shaikha Hayat’s efforts and contributions to women’s sports in Bahrain, in specific, and Asia, in general. Shaikha Hayat’s election also rewards her long and hard-working career in the field of women’s sports. She had won the best women and sport award for Asia in 2015 from the International Olympic Committee. She previously took the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Sports Innovation in 2012. Shaikha Hayat has been a prominent member of women’s sports family around the world. Shaikha Hayat is presently a member of the IOC Athletes Entourage Commission as well as the chairwoman of Union of Arab National Olympic Committees. She is also a member of the Organizing Committee for Women's Sports in the GCC and a member of the jury of Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak for Sports Women. Shaikha Hayat has participated in many conferences, meetings and forums. She has led many sports delegations in women's sport and table tennis. She started her career as a national table tennis teams’ manager, before becoming president of the association. Late on, Shaikha Hayat became board member of the Bahrain Olympic Committee and the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports. She also won the medal of efficiency and medal of Bahrain awards in 2001 and 2002, respectively.