Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
The UAE Committee for Talent and Sports Support (UAETSS) has welcomed four promising young athletes into its development programmes during a ceremony held at Dubai Autodrome in Motor City.
The event, attended by His Highness Sheikh Suhail Bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Undersecretary for Sports Development and Competitiveness at the Ministry of Sports and Chairman of UAETSS, and Eng. Mansour Buosaiba, President of the UAE Cycling Federation, marks the latest step in the 'Pathway for Sports Champion' programme.
Launched in November 2025 in partnership with Elite Sport UAE (ESUAE), the initiative seeks to identify and nurture emerging talent across a range of disciplines.
Those selected include drifting athlete Khalifa Al Falasi and three cyclists from the UAE Cycling Federation: Falah Al Nuaimi, Sultan Saud, and Afra Khalid. The move reflects UAETSS's commitment to expanding the country's sporting talent pool beyond traditional disciplines and supporting athletes who show potential at regional and international levels.
His Highness Sheikh Suhail bin Butti emphasised that the programme forms part of sustained institutional efforts to develop sports talent under the guidance of the Ministry of Sports, in collaboration with the UAE Olympic Committee, the Emirates Committee for Elite and High-Performance Sports, and other national stakeholders.
"Through UAETSS' talent development programmes, we aim to offer an integrated professional environment that identifies the aspirations of our athletes and supports them to attain the best results at regional and international levels," His Highness said.
"We strongly believe that investing in young talents is the cornerstone of our efforts for creating the future champions of UAE sports and strengthening the country's position on the global sports map. The decision to include specialised sports such as drifting and cycling underscores our vision to support diverse talents and open new horizons for their excellence and achievements."
Eng. Mansour Buosaiba described the inclusion of the three cyclists as a significant milestone for the sport. "At the UAE Cycling Federation, we seek to work closely with all relevant entities to support the young talent and offer them the ideal environment to hone their skills, aligning with global best practices," he said.
"This also contributes to building a generation capable of achieving remarkable results and representing the UAE in both regional and international competitions."
He added that the federation would now focus on expanding participation in cycling across all age groups, enhancing training programmes and aligning development efforts with the country's ambition to excel at continental and international levels.
The programme provides selected athletes with specialised training, local and international bootcamps, and professional technical and administrative support to help them transition to elite level in line with international standards.
UAETSS continues to work under the supervision of the Ministry of Sports and in partnership with key national bodies to create a comprehensive system for talent identification and development across the UAE.
