Women sports in Qatar stepping onward

Sport in Qatar have taken big strides in recent years as reflected in the impressive performance of various Qatari teams that participated in regional and international contests. Women were at the heart of this movement as they first participated in the recent 3rd West Asian Games as a preparation for another major event, which is the 15th edition of the Asian Olympic Games Doha 2006. Girls Sports Committee chairperson Dr. Anisa Al-hitmi sat down with Qatarinfo.net and talked about women participation in the west Asian games and the forthcoming ASIAD. Dr. Al-hitmi said that the 3rd West Asian Games was a test for the readiness of Qatar\'s she-champions, pointing out that the movement began officially in 1957 within the ministry of education, which insisted on including sports in the schools curricula as an essential course. However, the official start under the umbrella of an official body was after the decision of Her Highness Sheikh Mouzah Bint Nasser Al-Misnad, wife of His Highness the Emir and Chairperson of the Supreme Family Affairs Council to set up the girls sports committee in 2000 and later under the umbrella of Qatar National Olympic committee in 2001, following a decision issued by the Heir Apparent H.H Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, who is the head of the QNOC. At the beginning, Dr. Alhitmi said it was not very easy to gain ground because of the society which tend to be conservative did not accept the fact that women practice sport. But with the passing of time and the efforts of women in different committees and the endless support of Her Highness Sheikh Mouzah Bint Nasser Al-Misnad H.H Sheikh Tamim the committee managed to make a great deal of achievements both locally and on the international level. On the mission of the committee, Dr. Alhitmi pointed out that Among the committee\'s main objectives are supporting and bringing women\'s sports to a new level by improving the administrative and technical skills of the personnel involved; and consolidating women\'s participation in sports activities.  The total number of female players in the above-mentioned 3 centers is around 600 in different age groups trained by 26 coaches in different games and sports such as: handball, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, chess, field and track, gymnastics and shooting. Replying to a question on women participation in the 3rd West Asian Games, Girls Sports Committee chairperson said although women participated in four sports categories, namely swimming, shootings, bowling and steeplechase, the Qatari team managed to prove they are strong and bagged bronze and silver. As for the rest of the competitions, the edition was a test to the performance to our national female teams, she noted, adding that the participations therein were under the name of the national association. Yet, the role of the female sports committee was to supervise the progress. On the relations the committee has with national and international bodies, Al-hitmi said that such a relation culminated in establishing the West Asian games council, which will be presided by Sheikh Talal Al Fahd Al Ahamd of Kuwait. QNOC\'s secretary general H.E Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman was elected as vice president. Four females will be chosen to set up women committee that would represent 13 Asian countries. Ahlam Almanei from the girls sports committee was chosen to join the council, which is in itself an achievement, she explained. Among the committee\'s main objectives are supporting and bringing women\'s sports to a new level by improving the administrative and technical skills of the personnel involved; and consolidating women\'s participation in sports activities. Girls Sports\' Committee  has joined a number of Arab, Islamic and international associations.