Tribune News Network
Doha
The inaugural Jr NBA League in Qatar and the NBA’s ‘Her Time to Play’ programme recently concluded with a celebration at Qatar Foundation’s Education City. The events brought together hundreds of young basketball players, enhancing their sports and life skills.
The Jr NBA League, organised by Qatar Foundation (QF) in collaboration with the NBA and supported by the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF), involved nearly 450 boys and girls from various schools and programmes across the country. Each team represented one of the 30 NBA franchises, fostering a spirit of competition and learning in the fundamentals and core values of basketball.
Simultaneously, the NBA’s Her Time to Play programme offered girls and women opportunities to engage in basketball and pursue careers in coaching and athletic leadership. The programme included multiple workshops over several weeks, focusing on building confidence, facing challenges, and instilling values like teamwork, leadership and respect. A notable highlight was a clinic held during Ladies Night at Education City Stadium, providing a unique setting for participants to hone their basketball skills.
Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, vice chairperson and CEO of QF, attended the closing ceremonies. In the competition, QF Recreation Qatar Academy for Science and Technology (QAST), representing the New York Knicks, won the girls’ division, while the Qatar Basketball Federation, representing the Milwaukee Bucks, took the top spot in the boys’ division. The girls’ final game saw QF Recreation QAST team, including 12-year-old Mira Hajor from Lebanon, triumph over the Utah Jazz, represented by BE Basketball, with a score of 55-29. The game was officiated by Alaa Soliman, a professional player for the Qatar Women’s National Team and a FIBA Certified Referee.
Mira Hajor, reflecting on the experience, said, “I really enjoyed it, it’s been a great experience. I’ve loved every moment with my teammates – and getting to know them better. I’ve created new bonds with my friends and new relationships.” Hajor also participated in the Her Time to Play programme, emphasising the workshops’ educational value in learning social skills, self-respect and camaraderie.
The programme featured Sylvia Fowles, a distinguished athlete with two WNBA championships, the 2017 WNBA MVP title, eight WNBA All-Star selections and four Olympic gold medals. Fowles shared her knowledge and life skills, focusing on leadership and personal growth. She remarked, “It’s been particularly rewarding to see the young women in the Her Time to Play programme grow in confidence.”
Dana Mohammed, an 11-year-old participant from Al-Andalus Primary School for Girls, expressed pride in her team’s efforts, representing the Toronto Raptors, who finished third. She noted, “The Her Time to Play workshops were really fun. I really liked attending them. We learned about being confident and not being shy.”
The collaboration with the NBA aligns with Qatar Foundation’s commitment to supporting QBF in the run-up to the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup and national objectives to create pathways and programmes for youth, particularly girls, in sports. The programme is set to resume in early 2025.
