The 12 best teams qualified for the semi-finals of the inaugural edition of the UAE University Games at the end of 24 exciting quarter-final matches held late on Friday.
This is the official and largest sporting event for universities in the UAE, organized by Abu Dhabi Entertainment Company (ADEC), in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports and the UAE School and University Sports Federation, and with the support of Solutions+ and MBME Group.
The men’s football tournament was the pick with the American University in the UAE getting past UAE University 2-1, to set a match-up against the American University of Sharjah, who went on to thump University of Dubai 4-1. In the second semi-final, the University of Sharjah will face Al Ain University following contrasting wins by the two sides. University of Sharjah drubbed RIT Dubai 8-1, while Al Ain University secured a hard-fought sudden death 9-8 win against American University in Dubai after being tied goalless in regulation period.
In the women’s football, the American University in Sharjah will face the American University in Dubai, while New York University will be up against HCT Abu Dhabi in the two semi-finals to be played on April 14.
New York University squeezed past UAE University 5-4, while HCT Abu Dhabi defeated Middlesex University 4-2. In the other two quarter-finals, American University in Sharjah beat Zayed University 3-1, while American University in Dubai beat Heriott Watt University 4-0.
In men’s basketball, the American University in Dubai will face the Canadian University in Dubai, and New York University will face the University of Sharjah. In the women’s basketball, Abu Dhabi University will face the American University of Sharjah, and the American University in Dubai will take on the University of Sharjah.
The Canadian University in Dubai looked to be the team to watch out for following their huge 84-35 win against University of Wollongong, while American University in Dubai defeated Zayed University 55-17. In the other two quarter-finals, New York University beat RIT Dubai 43-36, while University of Sharjah defeated Abu Dhabi University 68-29.
In the women’s basketball, Abu Dhabi University will take on American University in Sharjah, while University of Sharjah will face American University in Dubai in the two semi-finals on April 16.
The Abu Dhabi University beat New York University 33-11 and American University in Sharjah defeated UAE University 18-14. In the late matches, University of Sharjah beat Middlesex University Dubai 53-36, while American University in Dubai beat Khalifa University 77-8.
The men’s volleyball tournament will see the American University in Dubai face the University of Dubai, and the Higher Colleges of Technology in Dubai will face the University of Sharjah. The American University in Dubai beat UAE University 2-0, while University of Dubai got the better of Sorbonne University 2-0. The HCT Dubai beat UAE University 2-0, while University of Sharjah got the better of New York University, 2-0.
In the women’s volleyball tournament, the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Dubai will face the American University in Dubai, and New York University will face the University of Sharjah.
The quarter-finals matches were held amidst a large crowd and a competitive atmosphere between the young talents showcased by this tournament in the UAE.
The semi-final matches in all three sporting disciplines are scheduled for April 14 to 16, while the finals will be held on April 19 and 20 at Al Jazeera Club in Abu Dhabi.
The first edition of the tournament saw the participation of 1,585 students from 28 universities, who competed in qualifying rounds held across the UAE before reaching the knockout stages of the competition.