Collegiate Sports Festival concludes with AUS celebrated as the overall champion

The thrilling American University of Sharjah (AUS) Sports Festival concluded with an extraordinary turnout, featuring 24 universities and 544 student-athletes from across the UAE competing in high-energy matches over five sports disciplines: soccer, basketball, volleyball, swimming and cricket. AUS emerged victorious, winning first place and achieving notable success across multiple sports. For each sport, separate competitions were held for men’s and women’s teams, providing a comprehensive platform for young athletes to shine.

The competition culminated in AUS winning the Overall Championship with an impressive 63 points, followed by the University of Sharjah (UOS) with 48 points and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) with 24 points.

Competition results:

Women's Soccer: UAE University claimed first place, with AUS' A-Team and B-Team taking second and third, respectively.

Men's Soccer: UOS emerged as the champion, while AUS secured both second and third places with their A-Team and B-Team.

Men’s Cricket: Manipal University took the title, with the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) and Curtin University, Dubai, finishing second and third.

Women's Basketball: UOS took first place, AUS finished second and Canadian University of Dubai (CUD) secured third place.

Men's Basketball: RIT claimed the top spot, AUS came in second and Middlesex University (MDX) placed third.

Women's Swimming: AUS dominated, winning first place, followed by UOS and MDX in second and third, respectively.

Men's Swimming: AUS emerged victorious, with UOS finishing second and UOWD securing third place.

Women's Volleyball: RIT secured first place, AUS finished second and UOS came in third.

Men's Volleyball: UOS won first place, UOWD secured second and RIT finished third.

Shaima Bin Taliah, Acting Vice Chancellor for Student Experience at AUS, reflected on the festival's impact: “The AUS Sports Festival exemplifies our commitment to fostering an environment where students can excel both academically and athletically. This year's event was a remarkable display of determination, teamwork and athletic spirit. It is truly inspiring to witness our student-athletes give their all, knowing their efforts represent the heart and soul of our vibrant community. What makes this festival even more meaningful is our dedication to providing equal opportunities for both men and women to showcase their talents and succeed.”

Among the participants was volleyball player Nancy Amr, a student from the AUS College of Architecture, Art and Design, who shared her experience: “The AUS Sports Festival pushed us to grow both individually and as a team. The competition was tough, but we learned so much. We really bonded as a team, and it was amazing to see everyone step up in key moments. The energy at the festival was unmatched, and it left us even more motivated for the rest of the season!”

Barra Taleb, a student from the AUS College of Engineering and captain of the swim team, described the intense and rewarding experience of the tournament.

“Our team went into each event with grit and determination, pushing ourselves to give the best performance possible. Every swimmer on our team fought hard, keeping their focus on the goal of being crowned champions. Watching the other teams compete was inspiring, and it was clear that we all shared a common goal. This achievement truly reflects the hard work of every athlete involved,” he said.

The AUS Sports Festival highlighted the university’s commitment to providing a well-rounded student experience outside the classroom. Currently, AUS offers 14 sports teams for women and 18 for men, with students competing on the local, regional and international level.