TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK

DOHA QATAR Youth Team will take on Qatar National Team in the Qatar Women’s Basketball League at the Aspire Women’s Hall on Thursday at 6.15 pm.

The second match of the day will feature Qatar Museums Authority and Al Gharafa Doha Sky at 7.15 pm.

The first ever women’s league was launched on Saturday with representatives from the Qatar Women’s Sports Committee and organiser QSports Leagues attending the opening ceremony.

Also present on the occasion were representatives from sponsors McDonald’s, Go Sports, IloveQatar.net, Al Gharafa Sports Club and the Qatar Olympic Committee.

The League will be contested by 10 teams, divided into two groups. The two top placed teams in each group will then proceed to a knock-out format – with the league being completed in approximately 8 weeks.

The teams are: Group A: Qatar National Team, Qatar Youth Team, Al Gharafa Doha Sky, Qatar Museums Authority and College of North Atlantic.

Group B: McDonald’s Eagles, Go Sport Storm, ILoveQatar.net FEAR, QB Hoops and The Outcasts.

The teams are made up of both Qatari and expat players, having a chance to win cash prizes and gifts. The winners will get QR 10000, while the runner-up stands to collect QR 6000. The third-place winner will pocket QR 4000. Special prize will be given to the MVP by Go Sport. Smart Phones are at the stake for the Best Player and and Best Young Talent by ILoveQatar.net.

Kofi Atuah of QSports Leagues explained, “This is a fantastic opportunity to promote women’s sports in Qatar.

By working in collaboration with the QWSC, we hope this recreational league will be a success and in the future we will be able to expand the range and variety of sports we offer to females in Qatar.” Ghanim al Mohannadi, the founder of QSports Leagues, said, “I’m delighted to be working closely with the QWSC and our sponsors to have a good start to the Women’s Basketball League. When I founded QSports, one of my main goals was to bring different nationalities together to have fun playing sport. I’m really pleased to see this becoming a reality.” Firas Myladen, Assistant GM Marketing in McDonald’s, said, “We welcome the opportunity to support grassroots sports participation in Qatar by sponsoring the league and hopes to continue supporting more sports events.” QSports will continue to work in partnership with the Qatar Women’s Sports Committee and their sponsors to launch exclusive events for women in soccer, volleyball, tennis, and badminton in near future.

QSports, with growing base of 2000 active sports enthusiasts, is open to all recreational players of all skill levels in any sport.

More information about the QSports league or its event can be had at the QSports website www.qsportsleagues.com