Shaikha Maitha
Shaikha Maitha Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is targeting a possible medal at the Beijing Games.
For someone who has gone the full distance at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, the stake for a medal is like a “blind step of faith”.
“I really do not know what to expect. I know I am going to Beijing because it is my duty and responsibility to be there. I also know that I have to do the best I can during the competition,” she says.
Shaikha Maitha has not spared anything on her way to preparing for such an important competition as she participates in the 67kg category in Beijing.
Her preparations commenced immediately after the Asian Games with teams from Egypt, Turkey, France and Morocco visiting the UAE to train with her.
She also took part in several Golden League competitions in Europe to further refine her expertise in the sport.
Despite these concerted efforts, she feels she has missed out on something.
“I think we have been desperately trying to find a little more time. We are running out of time. It’s a mad rush to the Olympics and everyone is hungry to win those medals. Everyone who is going to compete in Beijing is coming there to win, and I am no exception,” she says.
But she also knows that competition will be tough in China. It was with this intention that she set out early, taking in a training camp at the famed Chi Cha Hai Academy in China in the company of 2004 Athens gold medallist Lu Wi followed by one last camp in South Korea just before the start of the Games.
“I have to respect the rest of the competitors as all of them will be there to win that medal. They have put in so much of time and effort to get there and the one and only thing that would matter to them is that Olympic medal,” she says.
“I need to match that focus and do better than that if I am to return with the medal ahead of the rest,” she says.
It is at this juncture that Shaikha Maitha realises that her voyage is like a step into the unknown.
“The beauty is you don’t know what the outcome will be. A split second can determine a win or a loss.
“So the key lies in not underestimating anyone. It’s faith in the end and the belief that I can go out there and win,” she adds.
She will break off from her preparations and be the UAE flag-bearer at the opening ceremony on August 8.
Shaikh Saeed
Shaikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum is one of two shooters, who will don the UAE’s colours in the skeet competition in Beijing.
The Beijing Games will be Shaikh Saeed’s third foray at the Olympics, having participated in the Sydney Games (2000) as well as in Athens.
Shaikh Saeed won his ticket for the Games based on his performance at last year’s Kuwait Asian Shooting Championship, where he finished with a bronze.
According to a report published by China’s Xinhua news agency, Shaikh Saeed is hoping for the old adage ‘third time lucky’ to ring true. “This is my third Olympics; I am now in my best form,” Xinhua quoted him as saying.
“I have confidence in my capability, but I haven’t got used to the shooting range yet.
“There are many ups and downs at the back [mountains], but in our country, the range is flat. Success belongs to the best prepared; everybody comes here for the medals and everybody knows how to score,” he added.
Shaikh Ahmad
If there is one member of the eight-person UAE Olympic squad who is supremely confident of a good showing, it is Shaikh Ahmad Mohammad Hasher Al Maktoum.
Shaikh Ahmad sets out to defend the Olympic gold medal that he won against all odds at the 2004 Athens Games.
“Any time I have gone out, I have felt it is my duty and responsibility to add something new to my life and bring glory and honour to my country,” said Shaikh Ahmad.
However, things are going to be different this time. Besides the growing international competition, he will have to contend with at least two close friends, both Indians: Athens silver medallist Rajyavardhan Rathore and Ronjon Sodhi, who sometimes stop over in Dubai and train with Shaikh Ahmad.
To make matters worse, he has not had the same sort of preparations that earned him gold four years back. In fact, just two months ago the UAE shooter picked up his gun and began targeting gold in Beijing.
“I admit that this time I do not have the same preparations that I had four years ago. I am also aware that there are several shooters who have made much progress in the past few years,” Shaikh Ahmad admitted.
On the other hand, authorities in the UAE have paid the least amount of attention to further the cause of the sport by building around the performance of their lone gold medallist.
“We do not even have a proper shooting range, leave alone having some new faces in the national shooting squad,” he laments.
But despite this, Shaikh Ahmad knows that he has to go and defend his crown.
“I am going to Beijing for myself. I will go and try my best to bring back the gold medal. If it comes, then it’s most welcome. If it does not, then I don’t deserve it,” he shrugs.
“But this will not stop me from going there and defending my crown. I’ve definitely not worked hard for it, but I will still go and try my best and give it my 100 per cent during the competition,” he promises.
“I do not want to allow the pressure to get to me. I want to be as calm as possible and shoot. I look calm on the outside, but inside, I’m not.”
Former American Olympic medallist Josh Lakatos will be his coach in Beijing.
“He knows what it is to shoot at this level because he has been through it himself in the past,” Shaikh Ahmad says.
Shaikha Latifa
She’s been working hard for well over a year and now the moment has finally arrived for Shaikha Latifa Bint Ahmad Bin Juma Al Maktoum.
The UAE’s sole show jumping competitor qualified for the Olympics at a competition in Doha in March 2007 with her horse, Kalaska de Semilly.
Now the pair will be hoping that their efforts on the European circuit, which have seen Shaikha Latifa compete at five-star show jumping events in Belgium, Rotterdam and Italy in recent months, pays off.
At the Asian Games in 2006, Shaikha Latifa put in a confident round of show jumping with Kalaska to help the UAE win a well-deserved team bronze behind the Koreans and the Saudi Arabians. She has since undergone intensive training at her base in France.
She will travel from Aachen in Germany to Hong Kong for the equestrian competitions that will run from August 9-21. Show jumping will be held at the main event venue at Sha Tin.
Saeed Al Qubaisi
As the country’ top judoka, Saeed Al Qubaisi merited his place on the UAE Olympic team that left for Beijing last week thanks to the Emirates being allotted a competition spot.
That’s not good enough for Al Qubaisi though, who believes he has enough firepower to spring a surprise when the competition gets underway next week. Saeed has been working at his judo for the past six years, having first stepped on to the mat as a 12-year-old.
His rise among regional judokas has been quick though, and only last year he claimed both the GCC and Arab Championship golds. At 18, the Beijing Games will be his first Olympics outing, but this student of computer technology says strapping up with a rookie-like mindset is the last thing on his mind.
“I am excited about representing the UAE at the Olympics and like the other athletes I am only thinking of winning my class,” says Al Qubaisi, who will fly the UAE flag in the under-73kg division.
“I couldn’t explain the emotions I experienced when I was picked to represent the UAE. It is a great honour because I feel the reason I’ve been picked is because I’ve done well in the past.
“But the Olympics are much different to your local and regional competitions and you have to be at your best because you are up against some of the world’s best athletes.
“At the same time there is no point in participating if you’re thinking otherwise. You must go to the Games with a mind set at working wonders and thinking you can do it; that you can win.”
Only time will tell if that mentality serves Al Qubaisi at the University of Science and Technology in Beijing, the venue for the judo competition.
Adil Khalid
Things changed for the better for UAE sailor Adil Khalid after he struck gold at the Pan-Arab Games in Egypt at the end of last year.
For one, he shifted his training base from the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) and moved on to the Emirates Sailing School (ESS) along the Al Raha Beach in Abu Dhabi.
Secondly, he set about achieving something that has never before been done by any sailor from the UAE, which possesses a rich sea-faring tradition – qualify for the Olympic Games.
“It was like a dream at first. The gold medal in Cairo did a world of good for my confidence as I suddenly started believing in myself and I knew that I could somehow make it to Beijing,” the Dubai youngster said.
Then started a well-planned programme of training and participating in qualifying regattas all over Europe, including the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy and Austria, in an attempt to make the Olympic grade in his favoured Laser Radial Class.
“And when I did make it, I knew that I can possibly go all the way and bring back a medal for my country,” he says.
No wonder he has opted to throw a veil of total secrecy over his preparations. He does not want to let out anything about his method of training for the games.
To ensure no one sees him, Adil moves out on the water off the Al Raha beach with coach Omar Mohammad Bazara in the wee hours of the morning and returns by 7am.
“I wouldn’t want it to be any other way,” Adil says.
“I am happy to be here at the Emirates Sailing Club as everyone here starting with our chairman Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Shaikh Khalid Bin Zayed Al Nahyan have been more than supportive in helping me pursue my dreams,” he says.
“I am going to China to return with a gold medal,” he promises.
Obaid Al Jasmi
He’s been the No 1 swimmer in the UAE for many years and now Obaid Al Jasmi is destined for his second Olympics.
Currently training hard under the watchful eye of American coach Jay Benner in Tunisia, Al Jasmi will be the only swimmer representing UAE in Beijing.
A wildcard entry to China, Al Jasmi, who will be newly 27 by the time his date in the pool comes around, has represented his country at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the Asian Games in Doha in 2006 and last year’s Pan-Arab Games in Cairo.
“His training is going good,” says Benner who has been the UAE national swim coach for a little over a year.
Benner says he is aiming for a new personal best from Al Jasmi contesting the 100m freestyle.
“He has held the national record for a few years now, which is 53.7s, which he set in 2006. Our goal is for him to get in the pool and swim a sub-52s 100m,” Benner says. “That’s a pretty significant improvement in swimming terms.”
After the Olympics, Al Jasmi is aiming to score for his country in the Gulf Championships, which will be hosted in Abu Dhabi between August 21-27.
Omar Juma Bilal Al Salfa
As Ahmad Al Kamali, the newly elected president of the UAE Athletics Association, puts it: “Omar is being groomed for the future because he has another two Olympic games to go.”
The statement might undermine Al Salfa’s prowess in the track event, but Al Kamali has enough reason to believe his star sprinter is indeed the future of UAE athletics and the man who’ll rake in the medals (provided he keeps himself fit and running. Pun intended!).
Al Salfa is the current Asian Junior Indoor 200m champion and holder of the Arab 100m and 200m titles. The Al Ahli Club runner is quick and at 18 he is already being seen as one of Asia’s top talents after stopping the clock at 20.94s in the 200m last year.
“Omar will be running the 200m in Beijing; he is our best hope and he is capable of clocking 20.94, which is very good when you consider the fact that he is so young,” Al Kamali says.
“He is at a very good level right now that’s what his coach has been telling us from Poland.”
Al Kamali & Co though aren’t expecting Al Salfa to deliver the world in Beijing. Reaching the second round of heats would be good enough for now.
