KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
Five prominent female athletes shared their experiences and discussed ways to expand opportunities for future generations in sport during a panel discussion in Dubai.
The panel featured sprinter Maryam Alfarsi, snowboarder Amenah Almuhairi, MMA fighter Zamzam Al Hammadi, and swimmer Maha Al Shehhi.
The session, titled "We Emerge Stronger and Better: Identity, Heritage & the Next Generation”, was moderated by Emirati weightlifter and mental health advocate Amna Al Haddad.
The athletes covered topics such as rigorous training schedules, family support, sponsorship and funding. They also reflected on representing the UAE internationally, discussing both the pride and pressure associated with competing on the global stage.
Almuhairi, a winter sports athlete who competed at the Asian Winter Games and Youth Olympic Games, shared how flexible schedules help her combine her studies with elite snowboarding.
Alfarsi, who became the first Emirati female sprinter to compete at the Olympic Games when she ran the 100-metre event at Paris 2024 at age 16, said: “Events like these are important because they give women athletes greater visibility, create stronger support networks and show young girls that sport is a path they can genuinely pursue.
"My advice to young girls is to believe in themselves, stay consistent and never be afraid to take up space in sport. There is a place for you, and your ambitions are worth pursuing.”