As part of its efforts to promote sports and the development of women, Qatar has launched a basketball league for women.

Ten teams will compete during a six-week season to become national champions (with a QR10,000 prize) in early June, the Qatar Women’s Sport Committee has said.

Qatar, which is bidding for the 2020 Olympics, will send female athletes to the summer games in London for the first time this year.

Arabian Business reports:

“The athletes competing in this event will provide inspiration to many more young girls in Qatar and throughout the Arab region,” said QM president Ahlam Salem Al-Mana.

“With the progress we are making in the development of women’s sport in Qatar, we are confident that this latest initiative will help a new generation of female athletes compete at an international level and ultimately become Olympians in many sporting disciplines.”

The league’s games will take place at Aspire, and may become an annual event, officials said.

Thoughts?

Credit: Photo by Ryan Fung