International champs to grace SNS final edition

After enjoying much success with the first two editions of Saturday Night Showdown (SNS), CrossFit ERADA – a CrossFit affiliate founded by Qatari nationals in Qatar – is all set to cap off their first season with the third and final edition of SNS on Saturday.With the start of 2016, CrossFit ERADA is reaffirming its commitment to the local community by organising the third edition of SNS, a fitness competition that focuses on the fitness, endurance and concentration of the player. Athletes from Qatar and the region will compete with international champions from across the world to win trophies and cool prizes.On the  multi-purpose  courts  of  The  Sheraton  Doha  Resort  and  Convention  Hotel, the first two editions – on November 14 and December 19 – met with a feisty response from a large audience and also won the support of several national and multi-national companies in Qatar. The second showdown brought together 60 athletes – male and female – as every participant performed customised consecutive exercises and weightlifting.For the final edition of the challenge on Saturday, there will be athletes from various Qatari clubs and from neighbouring countries including Kuwait, UAE and Bahrain as well as international athletes from across the world who are coming to Qatar to be part of the event and challenge the Qatari athletes.Each player will have a dedicated judge who will award points on their performance. The players are divided into two sections: scaled for beginners and RX for more experienced athletes. The top three winners in each section will win cash prizes from Sports Corner and gift vouchers from Hundler Qatar. The SNS is organised under the umbrella of Qatar Sports for All Federation, with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. It is presented by Sports Corner and sponsored by Hundlur, Again Faster, Xendurance Supplements and Quest Nutrition.Abdulla al-Matwi, one of the founders of CrossFit ERADA, said, “Following two successful editions that were distinguished with excitement and huge attendance, we are proud to announce the third and final edition in the first season of Saturday night showdown. We will be back in the second season in new style and wider participation to meet the increasing demand of sportspeople keen to be part of the event. It is a clear indication of the passion of the youth in sports and fitness. We are pleased to welcome athletes from the region and the world to share with us these exciting moments.”The Saturday Night Showdown is free and open to all audiences. The exciting sport CrossFit raises the physical and mental abilities of the players, motivate them to challenge themselves, unleash their potential and push the limits of their abilities.  It  is an  integration  of  soul,  mind  and  body  that  creates  the  required balance  of  skills  to accomplish  great  results.“The show aims to raise the awareness of the importance of sports within our community and assist in achieving the 2030 national vision goals. This event also strengthens Qatar’s position as a regional hub of sports,” al-Matwi pointed out. To celebrate Qatar National Day, the section edition of SNS was held on December 19. The results in RX-Male put Mikko Aronpa in the first place, while Denny Kimmel and Khaled Aljarralla came in the second and third places respectively. In the RX-Female category, Emilia Leppanen reserved the first place, Steph Chung the second, while Whitney Miller came in the third place. The Scaled-Male category brought Stacy Nabor to the first place, Qassim Khunji and Ahmed al-Khulaifi in the second and third places respectively. Kym Ali won the first prize in the Scaled-Female category.The SNS is becoming the leading sporting event of its kind staged not just in Qatar, but anywhere in the region, said al-Matwi. “This event is fully organised by Qatari Nationals who are keen to promote sports and fitness in their community motivated by their passion and love to this game,” he added.CrossFit ERADA was founded in January 2015, by a group of young Qataris, and in a short time, has succeeded to attract many players and promote the  sport  among the youth.