DUBAI: Gearing up to deliver memorable performances, the UAE national teams are intensifying their preparations ahead of the inaugural edition of the Gulf Youth Games.
Hosted by the UAE, the Gulf Youth Games, a multi-sport event featuring 3,500 male and female athletes from across the GCC, will take place under the theme ‘Our Gulf is One… Our Youth is Promising’.
Mohammed Al-Shibli, technical director of the boxing team, emphasised the significant interest the UAE Boxing Federation has in the Gulf Youth Games, as it represents a great opportunity to discover new talent.
Shibli stated that preparations for the sports extravaganza started early, with players currently undergoing intermittent training due to their academic commitments.
‘Training intensity will increase during the spring break, with the team gathering for an internal camp to focus more on finalising the team roster.’
He added that a championship for the same age group participating in the Gulf Youth Games will be held in Fujairah on 29th M
arch of this month, which will be a crucial stage for the UAE Boxing Federation and the coaching staff to select the best elements to represent the country in the event.
Shibli indicated that the federation has decided to host an external training camp to prepare the final list of players who will be selected.
The camp will serve as the final stage of preparation. The federation has contacted three countries – Thailand, the Philippines, and Uzbekistan – to participate in a strong external preparation camp to equip the players in the best possible way and ensure they are ready before entering the competitions.
The technical director of the UAE boxing team explained that the outlines of the final list have been largely determined. He stated that the final list will include 13 players, while currently, 8 or 9 players have been tentatively settled upon. However, these names are subject to change based on each player’s readiness until the start of the tournament.
Sultan Ali Al Tahir, the head of the Chess Tech
nical Committee at the Gulf Youth Games, revealed details of the participation in the tournament, confirming that four Gulf countries will be in the fray, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. The competitions will take place at the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club.
Tahir explained that the competitions will be held in categories under 14 and 18 years old for males and females. There will be a rapid chess championship, blitz, along with a team championship for both rapid and blitz, for both males and females.
Each team are allowed to participate with three players at the team level, which means each team will compete with 12 players, bringing the total to 48 players. Players from the participating teams are allowed to participate in individual championships, and Tahir pointed out that an increase in the number of participating countries remains possible until the deadline.
He noted that a chief arbiter from the UAE has been selected, named Faisal Al-Hammadi. Additionally, each delegation will inclu
de an accompanying arbiter. The technical regulations prepared by the UAE Chess Federation’s technical management will be presented to the tournament’s technical committee for approval or modification.
‘Everyone is ready to make the first edition of this major event a major success on UAE soil. We have the experience, administrative staff, and organisational capabilities that will lead the event to a successful conclusion. We have previously hosted many international, regional, Arab, and Gulf championships,’ he added.
On the other hand, the UAE Badminton Federation approved the national team preparation programme, after determining the final list, which includes 24 male and female players.
The badminton team’s preparations began with a first internal camp held over two days at the Extra Academy in Sharjah, while the second will be held on March 30 and 31 under the supervision of the national team’s coach, Mahmoud Tayfour.
The badminton team will conclude its preparations for the Gulf Youth Games with anot
her camp to be held under the supervision of the National Olympic Committee from April 13 to 18, and training will be held in two periods, morning and evening.
Noura Al Jasmi, President of the UAE Badminton Federation, confirmed that the national team includes the best players who were selected from among 140 male and female players following a qualifying tournament held for the Gulf Youth Games, which the federation organised at the Extra Sports Academy at the beginning of this month in cooperation with the General Sports Authority.
Jasmi explained that the preparation program was set in consultation between the technical and administrative bodies of the federation to prepare the team members in the best possible way for the Gulf Youth Games. She stressed that the federation’s Board of Directors, in cooperation with the National Olympic Committee, will provide all the requirements that the national team needs, to achieve the aspirations of UAE sports.
Jasmi stated that the badminton team will be fully pre
pared for the tournament, especially since the badminton season in the UAE started last January, as the last three months witnessed the organisation of many tournaments and various events for juniors and youth, which helped them improve their skills and enhance the passion in them to show competitive levels. She wished good luck to the team for the upcoming Gulf Youth Games.
Source: Emirates News Agency
