Farah does her country proud

posted on 18/11/2010: 61 views

The appearance of UAE riders in two finals and the 13th placing of equestrienne Farah Al Khojai summed up the country's showing at the end of the fifth day of the 16th Asian Games.

The UAE's Badr Ali Al Beloushi finished eighth overall in the Men's Kierin Finals, while teammate Mohammad Al Murwwi came in 17th from 24 riders in the demanding Men's Points Race Finals held at the Guangzhou Velodrome Wednesday.

"This is something we can carry forward into the future," Al Beloushi told Gulf News. "We are pleased that we could achieve such good results with not too much of a preparation for the Asian Games," the UAE cyclist added.

Raising standards

Al Murwwi, too, was hoping to carry forward the same form into the next road race stage of the competition here. "Such results give one a lot of confidence and the ability to raise one's standard," Al Murwwi said.

Also doing well for herself and country was Farah Al Khojai as she ended 13th overall at the end of the individual dressage Wednesday. Al Khojai, the lone UAE participant at the dressage, was pleased with her performance and hoped to see better things ahead for herself and the sport once she gets back.

"This is something I can be proud about," Al Khojai said.

"I know I have to improve and after participating against such quality riders, some of them Olympic and world champions, it is amply clear as to what I need to do to ensure this sport grows," she added.

The UAE campaign in the men's and women's individual chess also concluded with Saleh Abdul Rahman Saleh and Hassan Abdullah being placed in 23rd and 24th place with 4.5 points respectively at the end of the nine rounds of competition at the Guangzhou Chess Institute.

Grand Master

Competition was tough with Grand Master Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan helping himself to the men's gold with 7.5 points, followed by Liem Le Quang of Vietnam and Bu Xiangzhi of China, while the Chinese pair of Hou Yifan and Xue Zhao took the gold and silver with 8.5 and 7.5 points in the women's leaving India's Harika Dronavalli with the bronze with 6.5 points.

Asked to comment on the UAE's failure to get off to a winning start in the medals table, Yousuf Al Sarkal, vice-president, UAE National Olympic Committee, admitted that besides the lack of preparation for the teams it was also down to luck and rising standards.

"The concentration of an athlete needs to start at least two days before the actual competition," Al Sarkal said.

"Getting prepared for a competition of this nature is one thing, but coming into a competition in the right frame of mind is another," he said as he watched the UAE's challenge in the bowling doubles wither away.

"However, we still have some disciplines remaining and hopefully our athletes will be able to push themselves and deliver with medals," Al Sarkal added. – Gulf News

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