Dubai: The Midea Dubai Schools Games, organised by the Dubai Sports Council, successfully concluded its basketball, indoor cricket, and wall climbing championships. Held with the support of the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Education, and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), alongside operating partner ESM, the events saw wide participation and intense competition among public and private schools across Dubai. The tournament has firmly established itself as the largest school sports event in the emirate, serving as a foundational platform for talent identification and the development of future champions.

Essa Sharif, Director of Sports Events Management at the Dubai Sports Council, highlighted the vital role of the tournament, stating: "The Dubai Schools Games continues to solidify its position as the premier sports platform for discovering young talent in the emirate. The high technical levels observed in the basketball, cricket, and wall climbing championships reflect the rapid growth and development of school sports. They also underscore our commitment to providing a professional competitive environment that helps build a new generation of champions capable of representing our clubs and raising the UAE's flag in international arenas, in line with the strategic objectives of the Dubai Sports Sector Strategic Plan 2033."

Sharif added: "Schools represent the true base of the sports pyramid and the primary launchpad for supplying the sports sector with promising talent. The tournament provided an ideal organizational environment for a large number of school students to showcase their physical and technical capabilities. Representatives from Dubai clubs closely monitor these competitions to scout outstanding players, register them, and track their development to strengthen national teams in the future." He also expressed his appreciation for the fruitful partnership with the educational sectors, operating partners, and supporters who contribute to embedding sports as a healthy lifestyle within the school community.

Record Growth in Basketball

The basketball championship, held at the Basketball Hub Dubai academy, recorded a historic participation of 1,500 male and female students forming 124 teams across six different age categories. This marks a significant increase from the previous season, which saw 768 students participate, reflecting the growing impact of the tournament in expanding community sports participation.

The final matches of the basketball championship concluded with GEMS Winchester School – Jebel Ali securing first place in the Under-13 Boys category, followed by Jebel Ali School in second place, and Kent College in third, while player Zaid S. clinched the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. In the Under-13 Girls category, GEMS Winchester School – Jebel Ali also took the top spot, with South View School finishing second, GEMS Metropole third, and Janine P. named the tournament's best player.

In the Under-15 Boys category, Jebel Ali School won first place, with Deira International School coming second, GEMS Winchester School – Dubai third, and Michael T. receiving the best player award. In the Under-15 Girls category, The Millennium School claimed first place, followed by Kent College in second, and GEMS Winchester School – Dubai in third, while Avneetha M. secured the best player award.

Delhi Private School Dubai topped the Under-17 Boys category, with The Westminster School Dubai finishing second, GEMS International School third, and Parth T. winning the best player award. In the Under-17 Girls category, GEMS Metropole captured first place, followed by Kent College in second, International School of Choueifat in third, and Kinzy A. named the category's best player.

Thrilling Action in Indoor Cricket

Danube Sports World hosted the indoor cricket championship, which featured 30 teams and a total of 300 players competing across the Under-11 and Under-15 Boys categories. The tournament showcased high tactical and physical skills in batting, bowling, and fielding amidst a highly competitive, fast-paced atmosphere.

GEMS schools dominated the top positions in the cricket tournament. In the Under-11 Boys category, GEMS Modern Academy clinched first place, GEMS Legacy School (A) finished second, and GEMS Winchester School – Jebel Ali came third, with Javish M. from GEMS Legacy School winning the best player award. In the Under-15 Boys category, GEMS Legacy School secured first place, GEMS Wellington Academy – Al Khail finished second, and GEMS Winchester School – Dubai took third, while Aarav G. from GEMS Legacy School was named the best player.

Physical and Mental Challenges in Wall Climbing

The wall climbing championship concluded at GEMS World Academy with wide student participation representing 19 schools from across Dubai. The competitions tested the students' physical and mental capabilities as they navigated complex and challenging climbing routes.

GEMS World Academy swept the top three positions in the Under-11 Girls category through students Kinu Hara (first), Audrey Dresdner (second), and Saku Hara (third). In the Under-11 Boys category, Thomas Gazda from GEMS Dubai American Academy won first place, followed by Michal Gazda from the same academy in second, and Grayson Riley from Al Manar School in third.

In the Under-13 Girls category, Al Dana Badr from Dubai College claimed first place, Isabella Gazda from GEMS Dubai American Academy took second, and Eva Sakhno from Ranches Primary School finished third. In the Under-13 Boys category, Alexander Clark from Jebel Ali School won first place, Ivan Losic from Dubai Heights Academy came second, and Sebastian Bromley from Nord Anglia International School finished third.

Furthermore, Alexandra Kozhenko from GEMS World Academy was crowned champion in the Under-16 Girls category. In the Under-16 Boys category, Blake Sutherland from Nord Anglia International School secured first place, Aarav Goyal from The English College Dubai came second, and Mikhail Rogachev from the Swiss International Scientific School finished third.

Strategic Vision and Sustainable Talent Discovery

The organization of these diverse tournaments, combining traditional team sports and non-traditional individual activities, underscores the Dubai Sports Council's commitment to expanding talent discovery pathways within an ideal competitive framework. The objectives of this edition align directly with the "Dubai Sports Sector Strategic Plan 2033," specifically targeting programs aimed at increasing the number of practitioners and developing the foundational base of national sports talent through the school sector to build future global champions.