Emirati Paralympian Siham Al Rashidi hopes to cap a memorable year with more success when she travels to the IWAS World Games in Vile Real de Santos, Portugal, next month.
She already has 10 medals in the bag for the year and that includes four golds in the women’s discus and javelin F57 events, one of which was in the Brno Mayor’s Cup and the Ostrava Cup, both in the Czech Republic.
The Emirati also clinched two golds in last month’s World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Marrakech and three silver medals in the discus, javelin and shot putt at the third West Asia Para Games in Bahrain.
Al Rashidi appeared in two Paralympic Games, 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo, and is quietly confident of making it to 2024 Paris. But before that are the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris and the Asia Para Games in Hangzhou next year.
“I have had a fantastic 2022 so far and hopefully I can take this momentum forward to the IWAS World Games (November 23-29) and beyond,” Al Rashidi said, attributing her success to the support provided by Sheikh Hamdan, Crown Prince of Dubai.
“The next two years are very important with the Fazza-Dubai Grand Prix, Para Athletic Worlds and Para Asian Games, and then the Paralympics in 2024. Hopefully I can make it.
“I have had an excellent training programme under a new coach [Nejib Mechkane] to improve my overall abilities and technique, and a month’s camp in Poland.”
One of Al Rashidi’s goals next year is to better her personal best throw of 26.98 metres in discus that she achieved in the 2019 Dubai World Para Athletics Championships.
“I have got closer a few times and would like to reach that mark at the Fazza-Dubai Championships next year. My goal is to break the 28m barrier,” she said.
Aside from being a para athlete, Al Rashidi is also a member of the Athletes' Council of the Asian Paralympic Committee. She joined the Dubai Club for People of Determination as a trainee athlete and graduated as one of the leading Emirati female para athletes.
“As a kid, I watched the Olympics and athletics on TV, and had good idea of the track and field sports when I joined the Dubai Club for People of Determination,” she said.
“Whatever I have achieved as a para athlete and in my life is because of the amazing support I received from the club,” she added.
“I want to keep pushing and make a mark for myself and for all Emirati women para athletes. I want to use this opportunity to make my family and my country proud.”
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
'The Ice Road'
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
Stars: Liam Neeson, Amber Midthunder, Laurence Fishburne
2/5
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SPEC%20SHEET
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Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20WallyGPT%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2014%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaeid%20and%20Sami%20Hejazi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20raised%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%247.1%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2020%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%20round%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
