UAE plan to send their biggest contingent ever at 2012 London Olympics

posted on 08/02/2012: 23 views

The UAE National Olympic Committee (UAENOC) revealed its plans on Tuesday to send its biggest contingent ever to the London Games later this year.

Yousef Al Serkal, the vice-president of the UAENOC, said the Emirates is aiming for a 13-member contingent to represent the nation at the quadrennial sporting extravaganza, labelled 'the greatest show on earth', in the English capital.

So far only three shooters - Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum (skeet), Sheikh Juma bin Dalmook Al Maktoum (double trap) and Dhaher Al Ariani (trap) - have qualified for the Games.

Meanwhile, 15 other probables will use the next few months in a bid to qualify in their various disciplines. And Al Serkal has urged those yet to qualify to try and make the cut on the basis of merit and not invitations.

"Historically the UAE has qualified with a nominal squad of athletes, but this time as we have seen we already have three qualified and we are expecting about another 10 to qualify so there is a change and this change shows the development of sport in the UAE.

"We don't want to qualify for the Olympics through invitations but through competitions,” Al Serkal said. "We believe we have high expectations from athletes, especially the shooters and the federations know exactly which athletes have the potential to win medals.”

Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, a silver medallist in the 67kgs class at the 2006 Asian Games, will take to the mats in her quest to enter the taekwondo event.

In athletics, triple jumper Muhammad Abdullah Abbas is just five centimetres short of the qualifying distance of 16.85m required to make the cut, while 400m hurdler Ali Obaid Shirook has returned to training after an injury and is "looking good" in the words of his coach Jerry Holness.

The UAE Athletics Federation has its fingers crossed on the situation of 200m sprinter Omar Al Salfa, who won bronze at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, but is currently injured.

Two women runners are also hunting for spots. Bethlehem Desalegn is looking to make the grade in the 1,500m and 5,000m events, while Alia Muhammad Saeed, who in Al Kamali's opinion is the nation's best hope in the track and field disciplines, is aiming for the 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m runs.

"My promise is to have at least three athletes qualify for the Games." said Al Kamali. :Alia is close to qualifying for all three events. She is four seconds outside the mark in the 1,500m, a second away in the 5,000m and five outside the 10,000m, so we are trying our best to support these athletes in every possible way."

In the pool, Mubarak Beshir and Obaid Al Jasmi are contesting spots, while Abdullah Hammadi and Majid Mansouri have been named as the probables in fencing. Khalifa Qubaisi (74kgs) and Mohammed Qubaisi (74kgs) will have to fight on the mat for a spot in the judo and wrestling events respectively.

Naser Al Tamimi, the General Secretary of the UAE Wrestling and Judo Federation, said: "We have been training Khalifa to fight since 2009 and we believe he now has the experience necessary to compete. He is an active judoka and one of our hopes to fight for a spot at the Games.

"It has been positive from his end and he can make up the points for a wildcard entry. We believe he has an 80 per cent chance of qualifying. Mohammed Qubaisi started in 2010 and will travel to South Korea for the Asian Championships later this month where a top five placing can earn him an automatic spot at the Games.”

In weightlifting, a triumvirate of Emirati women Yasmine Abbas, Alia Abdullah and Nahla Mazroei will be hoping to lift themselves into contention for a spot in the 75kgs class.

Sultan bin Mejren, the President of the Emirates Weightlifting Federation, said: "We have a gilt edged chance of qualifying and our efforts are aimed at helping them qualify. Weightlifting is one of the most important individual competitions and there is a big chance to grab a medal.” – Sport 360°

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