Hadhramout / University Media
Under the patronage of Prof. Dr. Mohamed Saeed Khanbash, Hadhramout University President, the university inaugurated the Inter-Faculty Championship in chess and table tennis for both male and female students on this Monday morning. The event serves as a central component of the activities of the Fifteenth University Student Week, which is funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and organized in partnership with several youth and sports organizations.
This year’s edition marks a qualitative development in both organization and participation, as the championship has been redesigned to take place at the faculty level rather than the inter-university level, ensuring broader participation and equal opportunities for students across all faculties.
The competitions feature the participation of 138 male and female students representing 11 faculties. Each faculty is represented by six participants in table tennis, three male and three female students, and six participants in chess three male and three female students.
In this regard, Mr. Zaki Ahmed Baqwiqu, Director General of Student Activities at the university, stated that the championship constitutes the main sporting event accompanying University Student Week. He explained that organizing the competition at the faculty level aims to uncover hidden talents and build strong university teams capable of representing Hadhramout University in future national and regional competitions, while also providing students with a constructive outlet for creativity and engagement.
For his part, Mr. Naif Bawazir, Head of the Sports Committee for University Student Week, highlighted the high level of organization in this edition, noting that the strong participation of both male and female students reflects the success of the strategic plan adopted by the Vice Presidency for Student Affairs to activate extracurricular student activities.
In the same context, Mr. Abdullah bin Abadi, representative of the Youth Services Center, affirmed that the championship contributes to enhancing what he described as “sports resilience” among young people. He also revealed plans to organize upcoming activities, most notably a football tournament scheduled for next June, in addition to providing free services at the University Presidency, including economic empowerment, psychological support, and community security programs.
The success of this sporting event reflects the coordinated efforts of the Vice Presidency for Student Affairs at Hadhramout University, represented by the Student Activities Department, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Hadhramout Youth Services Center, Youth Without Borders for Development Organization, the Youth and Sports Office of the Hadhramout Coast, and the Table Tennis and Chess Federations.
Participants expressed positive impressions of the championship. Nour Salem Basharahil, a student from the Faculty of Engineering, noted that the level of teams and player classification in her third participation reflects noticeable development. Nazem Bawazir, a student from the Faculty of Computing, praised the organization of the chess competitions, describing his third consecutive participation as evidence of the event’s continuity and quality. Likewise, Mohammed Amin Naji, also from the Faculty of Engineering, highlighted the increase in participation and improved organization compared to previous editions. Meanwhile, Shahd Hani Basarah, a student majoring in Kindergarten Education, expressed her happiness at participating for the first time, describing the experience as one that boosts her confidence in future competitions.
The championship will continue over the coming two days, presenting a distinguished model that combines fair competition with talent development, and contributing to enhancing student engagement in positive activities that support both their academic and personal growth.
