(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM)) The 2nd edition of the Sharjah Ladies Run, themed 'Night Neon Run', which was organised at University City in Sharjah, concluded last night in the presence of Sheikha Bodour bint Sutlan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, Shurooq.
The race aimed to offer a sporting and health platform for women, motivate them to adopt a healthy lifestyle and raise their awareness about the importance of physical activity for their mental and physical health.
The event attracted 760 women of various nationalities and age groups, including 352 Emirati women, who represented a number of government and private entities in the Emirate of Sharjah and the UAE, thus giving the competition more momentum, adding a special flavour and generating high morale among the enthusiastic participants.
The competitors gathered at 6 p.m. for the 2 km, 5 km, and 10 km races, in a congenical atmosphere, with strong determination to lead the Night Neon Run marathon.
The participants, who were divided into three groups according to the race category, were accompanied by ambulances and medical teams along the course of the race, to provide first aid if necessary. Eight women managed to make it and won the first places in the three categories.
In the two-kilometre run, Elisha Powell finished first in 00:08:21 followed by Reem Abusnana and Muna Khalifa, who finished in 00:10:11 and 00:10:20, respectively.
In the five-kilometre run, Caoimhe Daniels came first in 00:23:18, followed by Debbie Powell, and Tatiana Savelyeva, in 00:23:37, and 00:24:04, respectively, while the winners of the 10-kilometre run included Rebecca Fares, who finished first in 00:48:11, Karen Price-Lyall who came second in 00:52:04, and Maria Conceicao who came third in 00:52:40.
Khawla Al Sarkal, Director of Sharjah Ladies Club, said, "We are pleased with the success of the 2nd edition of the "Night Neon Run", which is characterised this year by the strong participation of Emirati women, thus reaffirming their presence in the sports arena, as they did in other fields." She added, "Sharjah Ladies Club strives to make this race one of the prominent annual events on the agenda of sporting activities in Sharjah and the UAE. The event aims to enhance the health and physical status of working women and housewives by encouraging them to exercise daily, motivate them to adopt healthy lifestyles that reflect positively on their physical and psychological health and reduce risk factors for many diseases." Meera Taryam, Director, Environmental Services and Education at Bee'ah, the main sponsor of the race, said, "We are proud to support this event, which conveys a message that fits with Bee'ah's plans and efforts that aim to enhance public health. We will continue to support all initiatives and events dedicated to ensuring a sustainable health and environment in the emirate." Ahmed Al Neyadi, Director of Al Theqa Programme at National Health Insurance Company, Daman, said, Promoting a healthy lifestyle has always been a priority for us in Daman. Today, we see an increase in the number of women who realises the importance of exercising health fitness activities in their daily lives. By doing so, they do not educate their sons and their family's healthy habits, but also contribute to disseminating these good practices within the wider community. Today, we are pleased to be supporting the Sharjah Women's Run, which will contribute significantly to achieve the required goal." At the end of the event, participants enjoyed a Zumba-fitness party where cash prizes and gift vouchers were given to the top three winners in each category. The first place winners also received gifts and prizes from sponsors.
The main mission of Sharjah Ladies Club is to provide women with an environment to excel and prosper, in order to enhance their position in society and enable them to play a bigger role in developing the country. The club provides women and children with a relaxing and nurturing place where they can learn and practice sports and other hobbies. SLC organises a number of events and activities in the domains of sports, art and music, entertainment, culture and knowledge, and health and well-being. These activities are devoted exclusively for women and children, and are organised throughout the year.
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