Al-Ru'ya team crowned champions of the fourth women's hockey tournament in Al-Baha
Women's sports in Saudi Arabia continue to make significant strides and achieve historic milestones, aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Quality of Life Program, which aims to promote sports participation in society and provide an attractive environment for young men and women. Within this thriving sporting context, the fourth edition of the Women's Hockey Championship concluded with resounding success last Friday at King Saud Sports City Stadium in Al-Baha.
This tournament highlights the rapid development of hockey in the Kingdom, a sport with widespread global popularity that is gaining traction and active participation among young Saudi women thanks to the tireless efforts of the Saudi Hockey Federation. The fourth edition saw the participation of four competitive teams comprising 30 players, amidst a highly competitive and enthusiastic atmosphere, reflecting the passion and commitment to developing the sport locally and elevating it to the ranks of major sports.
In terms of both performance and results, Al-Ru'ya team won the championship cup and gold medals after delivering an exceptional performance, culminating in their victory in the final match against their rivals, La'ali Jeddah, who also put on a remarkable display and finished in second place, earning the silver medals. In the placement matches, Badr Al-Madinah team deservedly secured third place, winning the bronze medals.
The excitement wasn't limited to the team's performance; several individual talents emerged, promising a bright future for Saudi hockey at both the regional and international levels. The outstanding player, Raseel Sharara from the "Pearls of Jeddah" team, won the Best Player award for her exceptional skills and impact on the field. Rawan Awaji from the "Vision" team received the Top Scorer award after demonstrating her remarkable ability to score goals, while the Best Goalkeeper award went to Ghadeer Al-Omari from the "Badr Al-Madinah" team thanks to her crucial saves that rescued her team on several occasions.
The coronation ceremony was held amidst a distinguished official and public presence, as the ceremony witnessed the presence of Engineer Faisal Mohammed Al-Ghamdi, representative of the Emirate of Al-Baha region, along with the Executive Director of the Federation, Mr. Abdul-Ilah Mansour Al-Maimoun, and a number of officials and figures interested in sports affairs, where the championship cup and medals were handed over to the winning teams and distinguished players.
This championship holds immense importance that transcends its local dimension. It represents a cornerstone of the Saudi Hockey Federation's strategy to broaden women's participation, discover and nurture talent, and ultimately form national teams capable of representing the Kingdom in regional and international competitions. Empowering female national talent through organizing competitions of high technical and organizational standards directly contributes to raising the quality of local competitions and enhances players' readiness for future events, thus solidifying the Kingdom's position as a rising sporting power across various disciplines.
