Flag football, table tennis for disabled at Aspire

Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) organised a couple of tournaments - one for flag football and another for table tennis for people with special needs - on Thursday and Friday as part of its Ramadan festival, “Welcome to Aspire”.The flag football tournament - a version of the hugely popular American football - was well attended, particularly by US expatriates. Four teams of 10 players each took part in the competition, with Doha Gargers claiming the title by beating Jebel Riders 24-12.Doha Gargers captain Yousef al-Kuwari praised Aspire for promoting the game here. “I thank AZF for supporting the game through this competition and providing the facilities for it,” he said.Saleh al-Ansari, Aspire’s VIP guest, presented the winners with the trophy and gift vouchers donated by AZF. The runners-up, Giebel Riders, were awarded silver medals along with gift vouchers.Abdullah al-Khater, head of sports and events at Aspire Logistics, said: “This sport was introduced by AZF as part of last year’s National Sport Day. In the past few months, it has gained momentum and we now have more than 50 players. We hope to host more matches and establish camps for some of the famous flag football teams and also participate in the next National Sport Day.”Also over the weekend, AZF organised a table tennis tournament for the disabled in collaboration with Qatar Paralympic Committee (QPC). The five-a-side competition took place inside Aspire Dome.Lauding the role played by Aspire in strengthening social relations among the disabled and supporting their integration with the community through this tournament, Hussein al-Haddad, contest organiser at QPC, said: “Through this competition, we highlight the capabilities of people with special needs and their ability to engage with social events normally. What distinguishes this competition is that is has brought together able-bodied professional players from the Qatari table tennis team with players with special needs, which has boosted their self-confidence.”Philip Templer, deputy managing director of Aspire Logistics, presented the gold medal to Khaled Afifi and silver to Tamer Ahmed; the bronze went to Soliman Share. “Welcome to Aspire” is a community-inspired programme and a reflection of Aspire’s commitment to promoting a healthy and active lifestyle among all residents. For details, visit http://www.aspirezone.qa/ramadan