Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE Sailing and Rowing Federation, and Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, have honored the winners of the Abu Dhabi Grand Kingfish Championship 2024, hosted by the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
As part of attempts to preserve customary competitions that honor the UAE’s marine heritage, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club organized the tournament.
After bringing in a 32.69 kilogram kingfish, Hamad Al Kamali was awarded the first place reward and AED 200,000 ($54,000). Omar Al Buraiki took home the second place prize and AED 150,000 ($40,500), while Muhammad Al Marzooqi took home the third place prize and AED 100,000 ($27,000).
Along with the Emirati women’s Al Namous team, other honorees included participants from outside the UAE, especially Jordan, Oman, and Bahrain, as well as sponsors, partners, and supporting organizations who were instrumental in the tournament’s success.
On more than 360 fishing boats, more than 1,500 fishermen took part in the biggest event of its kind in the area. 138 boats delivered a total of 166 kingfish for weighing, and competitors battled for AED 1 million ($270,000) in cash prizes.
Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, extended his sincere thanks to Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his generous sponsorship of the maritime festival, which promotes making sports part of a daily lifestyle and aims to revive marine fishing sports.
Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said, “We thank everyone who contributed to the amazing successes achieved by the tournament, since its announcement. We also extend our thanks to those who contributed to supporting the tournament, including sponsors and strategic partners. We would like to pay tribute here to the great role played by the organizing committees in the success of the tournament, and we promise everyone that there’s more to come.”