Doha: The curtain came down on a fortnight of free sporting fun evening as the final events of the Ramadan Sports Festival were held at the Aspire Zone. Since its launch two weeks ago, the hugely popular festival has captured the attention of hundreds of local Doha sports enthusiasts with its wide-array of unique late night, post-Iftar activities.
Having encouraged so many members of the local community to stay fit and active during the Holy Month of fasting, it was only fitting that the festival’s closing night should provide a spectacular send-off for all those who have taken part.
Kicking off the superb line-up of festivities was the men’s football match – the deciding game of a ten-day tournament that featured a total of six local amateur sides. Having each won all of their qualifying matches, the competition final was played out between fierce Doha rivals Al Andalus and Al Wadi.
With both sides widely considered to be the best two amateur football teams in the country, the match was a chance for Al-Wadi to avenge their 2013 defeat to Al-Andalus in last year’s tournament final. Unfortunately for the dozens of football fans in the stands however, the game amounted to nothing more than a training ground exercise for reigning champions Al Andalus who used their impressive skill and physicality to great effect. Having gone ahead in the fifth minute through a simple tap-in goal, Al-Andalus then added to their advantage a further six times before Al-Wadi pulled two goals back in the game’s closing minutes.
With the game ending 7-2, Al Andalus were deserved tournament champions on the night and were awarded for their efforts with a trophy. Among the several other community sport events also taking place on Tuesday included the semi-final and final matches of a men’s volleyball tournament. Spectators were treated to two hours of serving, spiking and rallying before a final match between local teams Palaboys and Paravaids. Winning this game 2-0, the Palaboys — a team made up of Philipino nationals — maintained their 100 percent competition record to be crowned eventual tournament champions.
Aspire Zone also hosted the final of a unique radio-controlled car race event. Open to men and women, the two-day competition was a chance for local radio-controlled car owners to bring their own buggy and truggy models to the Aspire Zone race track and compete against other enthusiasts.
After 48 hours of drama and excitement for the many spectators, the eventual champion of the truggy competition was Mohd Hafiz Adb Malek, whilst Rewell Englis and Joel Legere finished second and third respectively. In the buggy race Richard Ford claimed first place, Gael Richard finished second and Mohd Hafiz Adb Malek managed third place.
Despite the culmination of the sporting tournaments, AZF Ramadan activities remain available to the public. Religious lectures in the Torch Ballroom at Aspire Ladies Club are being organized by Aspire in partnership with Sheikh Khalid Bin Thani Al Thani-Foundation (RAF) and will conclude next Friday. “Splash & Dash” activities will be running through July and extend to the end of August.
The Peninsula
