Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
The UAE has rapidly become a powerhouse in global sports, with athletes from across the nation consistently achieving remarkable feats on the international stage. This success is a testament not only to the talent and determination of Emirati athletes but also to the UAE's world-class sports infrastructure and robust government support.
Over the years, the country's investments in cutting-edge facilities, elite coaching, and strategic initiatives have paved the way for athletes to reach new heights, bringing pride to the nation and putting the UAE on the global sporting map.
With gold medals, podium finishes, and global rankings to their names, these athletes have consistently proven they belong among the best in the world.
As the UAE turns 53, a look at some of the notable achievements of Emirati sportspersons or by some consistent performers across various disciplines, especially in the past three decades.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammad bin Hasher Al Maktoum:
· Shooting
· Won the first-ever Olympic medal for the UAE at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Greece
· He won the double trap event and finished fourth in the trap event at Athens
· At the 2005 ISSF World Cup, he won another gold medal in double trap
· He also coached British shooter Peter Wilson, who would win the double trap event at the 2012 London Olympics
Omar Abdulrahman:
· Football
· The closest a player from here has reached the European shores, although a trial with Ajax did not materialise
· Mostly with Al Ain, who later also played for Al Jazira, Omar Abdulrahman was adjudged the Player of the Year by the Asian body AFC in 2015
· ESPN ranked him No.1 in the 2012 list of top-10 Asian players
· In 2013, he was listed by FIFA in the most promising future stars in Asia
Mohammed ben Sulayem:
· Motorsport
· Multiple-time winner of the Middle East Rally Championship, and one of the greatest Arab drivers in motorsport
· Former president of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) and a key figure in the development of motorsport in the region
· Currently heads the FIA, the world governing body in Formula One
Faisal Al Ketbi:
· Jiu-Jitsu
· Five-time world champion in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
· Multiple-time champion in international jiu-jitsu tournaments, including winning the UAE National Jiu-Jitsu Championship
· Gold medallist in prestigious competitions like the World Jiu-Jitsu
Championship
Shamma Al Kalbani:
· Jiu-Jitsu
· Gold medal winner at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, as well as the World Championship later in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
· Won gold at every major international event she participated in 2023
· First Emirati female athlete to secure a medal at the World Games
Omar Al Marzouqi:
· Equestrian
· Renowned showjumper from Abu Dhabi, who was awarded 2024's Rising Star of the Year award by the world body FEI
· Representing the UAE at the Paris Olympics and the flag-bearer
Ali Mabkhout:
· Football
· Highest goal-scorer for the UAE with 85 goals in 114 matches
· Holds Guinness record for the fastest goal in the Asian Cup, when he scored inside 14 seconds against Bahrain in 2015
· Top scorer for UAE in 2022 World Cup qualifying, the former Al Jazira striker is now at Dubai's Al Nasr
Sultan Zarawani:
· Cricket
· Led the UAE team to winning the 1994 ICC Trophy in Kenya, which qualified them to the 1996 Cricket World Cup, the only time UAE made it to the world stage
· In their first-ever One Day International match, against India, he surprised even Sachin Tendulkar with the leg-spinner claiming his wicket
· He took on fearsome fast bowler Allan Donald in a sun hat, and was struck on the head, but remained unfazed
Mohammed Khamis Khalaf:
· Powerlifting
· The UAE has better strike rate at the Paralympics, winning five gold medals, 11 silvers and six bronze medals in history
· Of the five gold medals, Khamis became a pathbearer by paving the way at 2004 Athens before adding a second at Rio 2016.
· Abdullah Sultan Alaryani in shooting also has two gold medals
Salem Saleh:
· Chess
· Nation's top-ranked chess player, representing UAE at Olympiads since 2008
· A Grandmaster since 2009, he remains the face of UAE chess in a year which saw UAE winning the right to host the 2028 Olympiad in Abu Dhabi
National team:
· Football
· The UAE has qualified to the World Cup stage in its most popular sport at the 1990 staging in Italy
· Fahad Khamees and his boys played three matches but could not advance from the group stage
