College of Engineering wins the overall title at AUS Battle of the Colleges 2026

14 sports, 47 teams, 529 participants, 1 winner

The fields and courts at American University of Sharjah (AUS) have quieted down after weeks of competition, with the College of Engineering (CEN) finishing first in the overall standings after intense competition at the annual Battle of the Colleges 2026 tournament.

Organized by the Student Athletics and Recreation Department (SARD), the event brought students from across AUS' four colleges together to compete in a range of sports. This year's event attracted a record 529 participants, a 10 percent increase from last year.

Female participation grew by approximately 30 percent, rising from 93 to 121 students, while male participation increased by about 5 percent, from 388 to 408.

Apart from individual participants, the tournament featured 47 teams across 14 sports, including basketball, volleyball, soccer, cricket, tennis, table tennis, badminton, padel, squash, chess, swimming, track events, jiu-jitsu and powerlifting.

Soccer attracted the largest number of teams, with 27 entries across the competition. The men's tournament alone featured 23 teams, making it the largest team competition at this year's event, while powerlifting and jiu-jitsu were two standout sports that drew strong interest from students and spectators.

In the powerlifting competition, CEN student Bana Khairallah stood out with a 125 kg lift, winning comprehensively. 

“I am incredibly grateful to win at the Battle of the Colleges and see my hard work pay off. I have been training five times a week since January without missing a single session, and I believe that consistency has made all the difference. I want to continue my powerlifting career and eventually compete on the world stage, starting with upcoming competitions next week and then at the AUS Powerlifting tournament in three weeks,” said Khairallah.

Jessica March, Senior Instructor in the Department of English at the College of Arts and Sciences and former director of the Achievement Academy, also took part in the tournament. She competed in tennis, table tennis and padel, bringing enthusiasm and commitment that embodied the spirit of the event.

Reflecting on this year's tournament, Salma AlBusaeedi, Director of Athletics and Recreation at AUS, said: “This year’s Battle of the Colleges was a tremendous success, celebrating the sportsmanship and teamwork of our AUS community. One of the most exciting highlights was the remarkable participation of our freshmen, whose enthusiasm and involvement brought fresh energy to the competition and demonstrated the growing passion for sports among our newest AUSers. Congratulations to all participating colleges and students for their dedication, commitment and outstanding performances. Every participant contributed to making this edition a memorable success.”

The final standings were as follows:

First place: College of Engineering with 219 points

Second place: School of Business Administration with 104 points

Third place: College of Arts and Sciences with 86 points

SARD organizes sporting activities to encourage students to stay active, develop skills and take part in campus life. Through events such as the Battle of the Colleges, the department provides opportunities for students of all abilities to try new sports, build friendships and connect with the wider AUS community. In addition to recreational fitness activities, AUS supports 33 men’s and women’s varsity sports teams, fostering teamwork, discipline and personal development with scholarships available for elite athletes.

To learn more about athletics and recreation at AUS, visit www.aus.edu/life-at-aus/athletics-and-recreation.