Haitham bin Saqr attends opening of “Kalba Rowing Championship”

Sharjah 24: The first edition of the Eastern Kalba Rowing Championship was launched on Friday under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Sheikh Haitham bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Deputy Head of the Ruler's Office in Kalba City, was present at the opening ceremony.

Championship overview

Aisha Shahdad, General Supervisor of the championship, confirmed that many governmental and private institutions are participating in the event. Organised by the Eastern Kalba Channel in cooperation with Sharjah Sports Channel, the competition will last for three days with 50 boats representing various regions of the UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Heritage village and cultural activities

The opening ceremony featured a tour of the heritage village, which showcases various marine life elements like a fish market, grilling stations, salt cutting, and a popular café. The village sees broad participation from both governmental and private institutions.

Promoting traditional marine sports

The championship aims to promote traditional marine sports and preserve the region’s heritage. Activities include workshops on marine crafts such as gargoor, shosh, and leikh, alongside a “Barza” council for discussions on marine heritage.

Heritage competitions and fishing contest

In addition to the main rowing event, there are several heritage competitions, including tug of war, wrestling, burlap races, and the game of Meet. A fishing competition for Kalba fishermen is also held, with valuable prizes for the winners.

Notable attendees

The opening ceremony was attended by His Excellency Khalid Jassim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority; His Excellency Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; Salem Al Ghaithi, Director of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; Ismail Al Hosani, Director of Al Sharqiya Channel from Kalba, as well as other directors from radio stations and government representatives.