Emirati girls set for school games

Badminton has progressed fast when it comes to acceptability and popularity among the nationals here.
Going by the number of enthusiasts who have trained hard to come through a qualifying phase including 12 girls from the national and Arabic schools in the emirate, the badminton championship at the second Dubai School Games for Girls in February next, is of significance.
The Dubai Sports Council and Dubai Educational Zone and the Knowledge & Human Development Authority run event have led to a large number of players from the grassroot level picking up the sport which has a long way to go in comparison to Bahrain where the top nationals play at a third-tier level on the international stage.
The badminton competition will be held with over 160 students from 60 schools, classified into three categories, taking part.
In this year's preliminaries, the under 12 qualifiers were Sheikha Ahmed of Dubai International School (Al-Quoz); Nada Sultan of Dubai Advanced Education School; Asma Ali Abbas of Dubai International School (Al Quoz); and Shaima Ahmed of Dubai Model Creativity School.
Moza Saeed of Dubai Advanced Education School; Sara Al Jallaf of Dubai International School (Al-Quoz); Mera Al Saig of Al-Mawakib School; and Hind Abdulla Al Muhairi of the Creativity Model School made it to the final rounds for February in the under 15 category.
The senior under 19 qualifiers included Reem Al Kous of Dubai International School (Al-Quoz); Aisha Al Awadhi of Al Mawakib School (Al Barsha); Ahlam Salem of Dubai International School (Al Qarhoud) and Haifa Yousuf Al Bastaki of Dubai International School (Al Quoz). 
The second edition of the multi-discipline festival also includes swimming, cycling, mini basketball, futsal, rugby and handball.