Sharjah Women’s Sports organized the first School Rowing Championship on Thursday, May 21, 2026, as part of the Specialized Schools initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Sharjah Private Education Authority, and hosted by Sajaya Young Ladies of Sharjah. The event brought together 97 students from 10 schools across the Emirate of Sharjah, competing in three age categories: 12–13, 14–15, and 16–17 years.
The championship forms part of the organization’s efforts to strengthen the presence of sport within the school environment and expand sports participation among students by providing structured competitive experiences that help identify athletic abilities and develop physical skills from an early age. It also falls under the Specialized Schools initiative, through which Sharjah Women’s Sports works to integrate sport into the educational process and develop specialized sporting pathways that contribute to building a future talent base.
Participating schools included Wasit Model School – Cycle 3 Girls, Emirates American School, Zayed Educational Complex – Al Suyouh, Zayed Educational Complex – Qatah, Al Resalah International School of Science, Fatima Al Zahra School – Cycle 3 Girls, Fatima Al Zahra School – Cycle 2 Girls, Al Nouf School, Al Bataeh School, and Ruqaya School – Cycle 3 Girls.
In the 12–13 age category, Wadima Mohammed of Al Nouf School claimed first place, followed by Aisha Nasser of Emirates American School in second, while Fatima Mohammed Al Shaali of Al Resalah International School of Science finished third.
In the 14–15 category, Fatima Saeed of Zayed Educational Complex – Al Suyouh secured first place, followed by Shamma Al Suwaidi of Emirates American School in second, while Hoor Hamdan, also from Emirates American School, took third.
In the 16–17 category, Leen Imad of Emirates American School finished first, Mahra Ali of Al Bataeh School came second, and Aisha Ahmed of Fatima Al Zahra School placed third.
H. E. Hanan Al Mahmoud, Vice Chairperson of Sharjah Women’s Sports, said:
“School championships represent an important part of our efforts to embed sport more firmly within the school environment and strengthen its role as part of students’ everyday educational experience. We were especially pleased to see the enthusiasm and strong competitive spirit displayed throughout today’s championship, which highlights the importance of providing structured sporting opportunities that allow students to discover their abilities and build self-confidence from an early age.”
She added:
“We believe that investing in school sport helps develop a generation that is more aware of the value of physical activity and better equipped to embrace sport as a way of life. It also provides an important foundation for identifying and developing sporting abilities within an integrated environment that brings together educational and physical development.”
Alyazia Al Suwaidi, Head of the Technical Preparation and Follow-up Section at Sharjah Women’s Sports, explained that the School Rowing Championship forms part of a series of diverse school competitions organized under the Specialized Schools initiative. She noted that introducing rowing reflects the organization’s approach to diversifying school sports and giving students wider opportunities to experience new disciplines that reveal different physical and technical abilities.
“We are committed through these championships to offering students a variety of sporting pathways, giving us broader opportunities to monitor performance indicators and identify abilities related to strength, endurance, concentration, and discipline,” she said. “These championships are also a key part of the Specialized Schools initiative and provide a practical setting that helps guide future development pathways.”
The championship also included physical and anthropometric testing conducted under the supervision of the Scientific Center for Research and Sports Performance Development and the Sports Medicine and Healthcare Center. Coaches and specialists were also present on site to monitor the students’ levels and assess their performance within an encouraging competitive environment.
Through its school initiatives and programs, Sharjah Women’s Sports continues to expand sports participation and promote sport as a way of life, contributing to the development of a promising generation of young athletes capable of approaching competitive experiences with confidence and ambition.
