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Asian Games: While Iran
ready for more medals, UAE seek better fortunes!
-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal
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In 2010
Games in Guangzhou Islamic Republic of Iran become the
lone Muslim nation to have won many gold medals to
put Islamic world at the sports map. Most Muslim nations
have made a mess of themselves in competitions and some of them did
not want to win medals at all. Undoubtedly, Iran will emerge the
tallest sports nation in Islamic world in Asian Games in South Korea
this year with a tall of more medals than they got last time. .
.
Meanwhile,
United Arab Emirates, UAE has announced its intent of
flexing its sport muscle in Asian games by winning as many medals as
possible, though chances for it are not bright. Saudi Arabia could perfrm
better than UAE while Iran would be the torchbearer for Islamic world.
18
September 2014 Soccer, shooting and equestrian events likely to produce podium
finishes When UAE’s flag-bearer, Shaikh Juma bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, steps into
the impressive main stadium of the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea on
Friday, he will have two main targets to aim at. The UAE double trap silver
medallist in 2010 Games in Guangzhou, China will not only be trying to spur his
team-mates but would also go all out to grab the gold this year in the shotgun
category.
The
UAE are upbeat taking part in 13 disciplines this time with an 81-member
contingent. . The contingent started to leave the country in batches starting
on Sunday for the extravaganza from September 19 to October 4. The UAE
footballers were silver medal winner in Guangzhou. The Mahdi Ali-trained
football team had caused a series of shock wins by getting past both South as
well as North Korea and knocking off hosts China in the last four stages. The
young Emirati footballers narrowly missed the gold when they went down by a
solitary gold to Japan in the title clash.
Goodwill
Ambassador of the Games, Shaikha Latifah bint Ahmed Al Maktoum, who was a
member of the bronze medal winning equestrian team in the Doha 2006 edition and
a double silver medalist in the 2010 Games, is another bright medal prospect
for the UAE squad. The only time the UAE won Gold at the Asian Games was in
2006 at Doha when they captured three gold medals. All three were individual
gold with two in equestrian and one in bodybuilding event respectively.
The Doha
games was the most fruitful for the Emiratis as they bagged a total of 10
medals, their highest medal haul the Asian Games. In equestrian action,
Shaikha Latifah will be joined by Abdulla Al Marri, Mohamed Al Owais, Muftah Al
Dhaheri and Abdulla Al Muhairi at the Dream Park Equestrian Venue from
September 28 to 30.
Olympian
Mubarak Al Bashir, Mohammed Al Ghaferi and Khaled Al Suwaidi are scheduled for
the swimming events, while Ahmed Al Mansouri, brothers Yousif and Badr Mirza,
and Majed Al Balooshi form the UAE cycling squad.
At the
cycling velodrome, Yousif Mirza and Ahmed Al Mansouri will pair up for the team
pursuit while the former will participate in an individual item later. Al
Mansouri will also tackle the individual time trial while the seasoned Mirza
brothers look good to push the strong hosts South Korea, Japan and the central
Asians in the flat road racing event.
However, it is absolutely necessary for every Muslim nation to showcase their
cumulative sport strength at intentional sport events like Asian games and get
ready for the next Olympics in Rio.
Hopefully, South Asian Muslim nations Pakistan, Bangladesh and Maldives, who
failed miserably even at the recent Commonwealth Games, would get some gold
medals this time. The problem with these Muslim nations has
been that they suffer from
an erroneous perception about sports. They consider cricket
as the only useful sport because it allows
plenty of runs to batboys to make fake records and
rankings plus they can mint money by joint
cricket exercises permitted by cricket boards. Even UAE has
begun playing cricket and provide cricket stadiums to make money. . .
The 17th Asian games have
commenced in Incheon, South Korea and as of now no Muslim nation has won
any medal but Iran is on its way get its first medal.
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