Naif Oqab topped a field of more than 200 bowlers at Zayed Sports City over the weekend with a score of 2,977 to win the 17th annual Ramadan Bowling Tournament.
Oqab, an Emirati, nudged out second-place Uella Marcial from the Philippines (score of 2,968) and third-place Emirati Shaker Ali (2,958).
In a press release, a spokesperson for Zayed Sports City – which hosted the World Bowling Championship in 2014 and 2015 – said the tournament saw its highest participation level yet, with a 25 percent increase from last year that included 121 Emirati participants. The Youth Division saw an even greater increase in participation – 176 percent from 2015.
“We are very happy to have so many young Emirati bowlers,” said Ahmad Khamis Al Ali, team Manager at the UAE Bowling Federation. “The federation is providing them coaching, equipment and competitive opportunities abroad so they can grow. This is important because they are the future of the sport. You can start them with proper habits and support their development into great players.”
British Samantha Hannan took the top spot among juniors with 1,256 points. In the Graded Division for amateur bowlers, Shean Aguas from the Philippines took a second straight title with an impressive 222.0 average. In the Disabled division, Walid Mohamed Arjumand bowled a 538 to win the men’s event title and Nasra Ahmed Al Seqatri bowled a 332 to win the ladies’ division.
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