Nasser Al Tamimi believes the UAE judokas remain on track for the Paris 2024 Olympics after falling short in the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam at the Mubadala Arena at the weekend.
All nine judokas in the host team’s roster, including three professionals, failed to go beyond round one in the three-day competition that drew entries from 65 countries for the 14 gold medals for men and women that were on offer.
“We could have done better in a home championship but still we can take a lot of positives from the competition, particularly the experience gained by the Emirati judokas,” Al Tamimi, general secretary of the UAE Wrestling and Judo Federation, told The National.
“At this level, there is little margin for error. Our professionals committed little mistakes and that cost them the fights. However, they have many qualifying events coming up and we are confident for them to make the cut.”
Russian-born Aram Grigorian (90kg) and Dzafar Kostoev (100kg), and Georgia-born Nugzari Tatalashvili (81kg) were the three professionals in action along with six Emiratis.
The UAE first made their Olympic Games appearance in judo at Beijing 2008 and continued the trend at London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
The highlight for the Games campaign was the bronze won by Moldovan-born Sergiu Toma at Rio for only the second Olympic medal for the UAE after Sheikh Ahmed bin Hasher’s gold in double trap shooting at Athens 2004.
The UAE have five professional judokas recruited for the next two Games – Paris and Los Angeles 2028.
Al Tamimi insisted it was a strategy they adopted after the London Games and will continue with this programme until they have Emirati judokas ready for the Olympic level.
“We need to have our presence in judo at every Olympics until we have our own [athletes] at this level,” he said.
“The qualification for the Games began in May and there are many qualifying competitions for our professionals to achieve enough ranking points for Paris."
The other two professionals who didn’t participate in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are Russian-born Magomedomar Magomedomorov (+100kg), and Georgian-born Guram Dzavashvili (66kg).
Magomedomorov, 21, won two golds at the Cluj-Napoca European Open in July and the fifth Islamic Solidarity Games, and a bronze in between at the Grand Slam Hungary.
“He’s the youngest of the five and is currently ranked 26th in the world in his weight division,” Al Tamimi said of Magomedomorov.
“Tatalashvili and Kostoev are in the top 40 in their respective weights. Grigorian is ranked 57 and Dzavashvili is 111. All of our professionals have the potential to move forward and earn enough ranking points for Paris. They have done pretty well to finish on points in the previous competitions they took part in.”
Meanwhile, Georgia was declared first overall by virtue of having a seventh-place finish after they were tied with France on two golds, a silver and a bronze each from the 14 finals.
China, with two golds on the final day, both in the women’s division, and a bronze won earlier finished third ahead of Italy (1g, 2s and 3b), Spain (1-2-1), Britain (1-1-1) and Canada (1-0-1). Switzerland, Greece, Korea and the Czech Republic won a gold each.
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
Elvis
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WITHIN%20SAND
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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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
SPECS
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Match info
Athletic Bilbao 0
Real Madrid 1 (Ramos 73' pen)
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Schedule
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RACECARD%20
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A Prayer Before Dawn
Director: Jean-Stephane Sauvaire
Starring: Joe Cole, Somluck Kamsing, Panya Yimmumphai
Three stars
Result
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Brraq, Ryan Curatolo (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m; Winner: Bright Melody, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Naval Crown, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m; Winner: Volcanic Sky, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Zainhom, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The Light of the Moon
Director: Jessica M Thompson
Starring: Stephanie Beatriz, Michael Stahl-David
Three stars
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Major honours
ARSENAL
BARCELONA
- La Liga - 2013
- Copa del Rey - 2012
- Fifa Club World Cup - 2011
CHELSEA
- Premier League - 2015, 2017
- FA Cup - 2018
- League Cup - 2015
SPAIN
- World Cup - 2010
- European Championship - 2008, 2012
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Day 5, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Given the problems Sri Lanka have had in recent times, it was apt the winning catch was taken by Dinesh Chandimal. He is one of seven different captains Sri Lanka have had in just the past two years. He leads in understated fashion, but by example. His century in the first innings of this series set the shock win in motion.
Stat of the day This was the ninth Test Pakistan have lost in their past 11 matches, a run that started when they lost the final match of their three-Test series against West Indies in Sharjah last year. They have not drawn a match in almost two years and 19 matches, since they were held by England at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi in 2015.
The verdict Mickey Arthur basically acknowledged he had erred by basing Pakistan’s gameplan around three seam bowlers and asking for pitches with plenty of grass in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Why would Pakistan want to change the method that has treated them so well on these grounds in the past 10 years? It is unlikely Misbah-ul-Haq would have made the same mistake.
