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The kingdom's top 12 female 'ballers' are hitting the hardwood in preparation for the first GCC Women's Basketball Championship taking place in Doha later this month.

Bahrain's national team will be facing off hosts Qatar, UAE, Oman and Kuwait for a week-long challenge. The teams will compete in a round robin league with the winner of most points taking home the trophy and the title of 'first edition' champions.

Mohamed Salem Mohamed, coach and former basketball superstar for the club now known as Al Najma, has been putting the Bahraini squad through a rigorous training programme at the Zain Basketball Arena in Um Al Hassam for the past month interrupted by the recent unrest.

He said: "We started training on March 6 for four intensive days a week. When civil unrest hit the kingdom it hit us too as a team because we lost 10 days of training. It was difficult to get back into the swing of things, especially as some of our girls couldn't make it for practice.

"We managed to start up the programme again with six girls until the numbers of our team began to grow. Now we are back in the grind, training five-days-a-week to make up for lost time.

"On Saturdays we train from 11am to 1pm and that is the day when we discuss team strategies, our weaknesses and strengths as well as how to improve our game. The rest of the week we train from 6pm onwards.

"We originally started with 18 players, some experienced and skilled and others still juniors at the sport. Some of these girls had been playing basketball for 11 years and others had just started in the game.

"Out of the 18, a squad of 12 were hand-picked by the women's committee under the umbrella of the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC). We chose them on the level of their skills, speed and build.

"Six of these girls have competed together but the others are still considered rookies. We have a combination of young ladies from high school, universities, clubs and others working for a living and playing ball on the side for fun.

"I enjoy coaching the girls as they take the game seriously and are always on time for practice. There are never any excuses ... unlike some of the boys I've trained!"

The team will be flying to Doha on April 20 with assistant coach Hamad Ali Mohamed, physical therapist Ambili Jose and supervisor Maryam Al Thawadi. The tournament takes place from April 22 to 28.

The squad has received added support from BOC member and head of the women's committee, Shaikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa.

Mr Mohamed added: "Our team is still in the development stage and has lots of potential. Right now we have one target on our minds and that is to make it to the final.

"Every game is different so if we actually take the cup then that would be fantastic. If we don't then we will continue playing and working hard so that we can improve.

"I believe that Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are the tough teams to look out for, but I wouldn't put it past Kuwait to do well. I do believe Bahrain has a lot of quality players and I expect us to do well."

Marketing manager at the Bahrain Islamic Bank by day and point guard by night, Fatima Adel, 27, from Isa Town, also has high hopes for the squad. She said: "I think we have a very good team on our hands and a great combination of experienced players and juniors.

"Three years ago we competed in the Gulf Championship in Kuwait and took second place. So we are ready for the tournament and this time we aim to be number one!

"The association has been working hard to develop us and make us the best. I believe our new girls will have an even better chance to succeed. "

Bahrain Basketball Association secretary general Abdul Elah Abdul Ghaffar Mohamed said he hopes the women's game will develop strongly in the kingdom thanks to a three-year plan of action.

He said: "This is a good opportunity for us as an association to have a women's team and in the future we are going to put more focus on them."

Tonight the girls will play a friendly against tough competition - the US basketball team representing the navy base.