Major General M. Ismail Al-Karqawi, President of the Arab and UAE Basketball Federations, revealed during the ceremony honoring the delegations participating in the Arab Women's Teams Championship about the efforts made by the Arab Federation to officially recognize the Arab championships similar to the continental and international championships, saying that he raised this issue with the Greek Andreas Zagalis, Secretary-General of FIBA during his visit to Dubai last month, pointing out that the international official asked the Arab Federation to submit an official request in this regard, provided that it will be studied at the earliest opportunity and a final decision regarding it shall be announced. The announcement of these endeavors came during the speech he delivered at the memorial shield exchange ceremony At the Championship Hotel, in which he emphasized the qualitative leap achieved by Arab basketball in recent years and the success of three Arab teams to the next World Cup finals scheduled to be held next month, namely Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan. Al- Karqawi also expressed his happiness of the success of Women National Teams Championship hosted by Egypt and its return after six years pointing out that the participation of only four does not detract from this success, hoping that the number will double in the next edition. Al- Al-Karqawi also praised the efforts made by the organizing federation led by Dr. Magdi Abu Freikha, the working committees, the General Secretariat of the Arab Federation and the championship referees, as well as the cooperation of the Arab federations.
In turn, Dr. Magdy Abu Freikha praised the efforts of the Arab Federation and the head of Major General Ismail Al-Karqawi, who is keen to support Arab basketball, pointing to the great success achieved by the women’s championship and the federation’s keenness to participate with two teams, considering that this participation will benefit its teams, which are awaiting international and continental benefits represented by the World Cup at the national level of U19 years old and the African finals for the first team. Abu Farekha added that his federation gives priority in organizing the Arab championships and on this basis he agreed to host the women’s and men’s championships during the current year and he is ready to cooperate with all Arab federations. At the closing ceremony, Abu Fareikha gave Major General Ismail Al- Karqawi a commemorative shield, and the participating federations also exchanged shields among themselves and with the Arab Federation.
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