Asian Games: UAE eye more medals!

-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 meld s as possible. 

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.