The first woman to represent the UAE in kayaking hopes she can inspire more female participation in the sport after taking bronze on her international debut for the country.
Ellecia Saffron finished third in the masters’ category of the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships in Perth last weekend.
It was the first medal the country has won at an international event since the Emirates Canoe and Rafting Federation started entering competitions in 2022.
Originally from Australia, Saffron opted to represent the UAE having lived in Abu Dhabi for the past 16 years.
“I love the UAE,” Saffron, 40, said. “People have asked, ‘Why did you represent the UAE?’ Australia had around 300 people in their team, and in the UAE, we had three.
“I would really love to help promote the sport, especially for women, and help lift the profile. It is such an amazing sport and has given me so much.
“It has helped me through tough times, and has given me so much joy and so many wonderful times.
“I love being out there doing what we do, but the thing that matters most to me is the community. It gives you purpose first thing in the morning, and 20 or 30 people to have a coffee with afterwards.
“All the efforts that have been made in setting up the Emirates Canoe and Rafting Federation and setting this team up, I want to support that. Hopefully by entering as a UAE competitor, I can do that.”
Saffron is only new to the sport herself. She first took it up during Covid when she was caught in Australia by travel restrictions, as it was one of the few activities still permitted during lockdown.
In less than three years she has become proficient enough to take a podium finish at an international event, having already previously placed at the gruelling 52km Moloka’i to Oahu race in Hawaii.
She juggles training around running her own business advisory firm, Maysaffron, and after returning from Perth she was straight into working with her clients at Cop 28.
“I was just going to the gym a couple of times a week,” Saffron said of how she first came to kayaking.
“I had never raced or done any of this sort of thing. It was new to me. What prompted me was a friend of mine was trying it during Covid, so I used that opportunity to try it as well. I picked it up and became addicted very quickly.
“I can’t believe I only took it up three years ago. I wish I had discovered it sooner. I moved here when I was 24. Think of all those afternoons I could have been paddling.
“There are amazing conditions here. Abu Dhabi is the paddling world’s best kept secret.”
In little time, she began competing in the Shaw and Partners Australian Ocean Racing Series.
She also raced in the event which concludes that series the week before she represented the UAE in the World Championships in Perth.
Because the field for that race is international, she had an idea of where to benchmark herself ahead of the competition, and she says she was aiming for third place.
Although she achieved it, she was not aware of doing so at the time, having completed the 22km race in a touch over 1 hour 48 mins.
“I’m not very good into a headwind as some of the girls are heavier than me and my boat combined, and I am not that strong as I am still new to the sport,” she said.
“I fall behind in the 2km headwind, then am trying to catch up when we turn into the downwind, and can reduce the space between me and the others.
“My goal was to get the bronze as I knew there were two other girls who were probably stronger than me in the category.
“I came in thinking that I probably hadn’t got where I wanted to get, and that is OK. I didn’t have a great exit from my boat, but I still sprinted up and as I crossed the line they announced it.
“I didn’t hear it but all my friends that were there grabbed me and said I had got it. It was an exciting moment.”
The other members of the UAE team in Perth, Dubai-based Balazs Bartfai and Fraser Hallatt, finished 20th and 21st respectively, in the junior race.
Yaser Alkatheri, the president of Emirates Canoe and Rafting Federation, said the performance of the three competitors shows the progress the sport is making in the country.
“Their success is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and the supportive paddling community in the UAE,” Alkatheri said.
“It’s an exciting time for the sport in the nation, and these achievements are sure to inspire a new generation of paddlers.”
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Roll%20of%20Honour%2C%20men%E2%80%99s%20domestic%20rugby%20season
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWest%20Asia%20Premiership%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Bahrain%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Premiership%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Division%201%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Sharks%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Harlequins%20II%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Division%202%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%20III%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Sharks%20II%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDubai%20Sevens%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
|
1.
|
United States
|
|
2.
|
China
|
|
3.
|
UAE
|
|
4.
|
Japan
|
|
5
|
Norway
|
|
6.
|
Canada
|
|
7.
|
Singapore
|
|
8.
|
Australia
|
|
9.
|
Saudi Arabia
|
|
10.
|
South Korea
|
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20WonderTree%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20April%202016%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Muhammad%20Waqas%20and%20Muhammad%20Usman%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Karachi%2C%20Pakistan%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%2C%20and%20Delaware%2C%20US%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Special%20education%2C%20education%20technology%2C%20assistive%20technology%2C%20augmented%20reality%3Cbr%3EN%3Cstrong%3Eumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGrowth%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Grants%20from%20the%20Lego%20Foundation%2C%20UAE's%20Anjal%20Z%2C%20Unicef%2C%20Pakistan's%20Ignite%20National%20Technology%20Fund%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE SPECS
Range Rover Sport Autobiography Dynamic
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 518bhp
Torque: 625Nm
Speed: 0-100kmh 5.3 seconds
Price: Dh633,435
On sale: now
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
'Avengers: Infinity War'
Dir: The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen
Four stars
Avengers: Endgame
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Brolin
4/5 stars
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
