JEDDAH — Basketball is no more a US sport, people enjoy watching on their TV sets. They enjoy it even more on the court. Furthermore, more and more girls are taking up the sport in the region. This was very much evident on a recent trip by a Jeddah-based women's basketball team, Jeddah United, to the United Arab Emirates. Jeddah United played two friendly games on the visit and won them both. It beat Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, 40-37 and then won the encounter against Sharjah Ladies Club 35-32. The games presented an opportunity to foster ties between Saudi and UAE women basketball teams. The visit was a training opportunity for the Jeddah United players. It helped them gain experience and gauge their sporting abilities at the Gulf level. On a team level, it was a bonding experience where several team activities took place. The friendly games initiative aimed at building cooperation between the UAE and Saudi teams besides providing the players with an intercultural experience. Lina Almaeena, co-founder and director of Jeddah United Sports Co., said the team was inspired by the spirit, friendliness and sportsmanship shown by the Emirati teams. Jeddah United has previously played friendly games against University of Malay, Aramex Al-Riyadi, Shabab Al-Urdon, Jordan; American University in Sharjah. The Jeddah United women's basketball team is sponsored by Sipco, Aquafina and Femi9. Kempinski Hotel and Mall of Emirates have become Jeddah United's strategic partners and partially sponsored the accommodation of the team and the delegation. The trip to the UAE coincided with the third Gulf Women's Games 2013 in Bahrain. — SG
