Emirati Fahad Al Bloushi said he was “on cloud nine” after opening the inaugural “Champion Series” in Abu Dhabi with victory – and immediately set sights on creating more history.
The Dubai-born boxer, 26, dominated Georgian Irakli Shariashvili in the opening bout at Etihad Arena on Saturday night, taking the unanimous decision 60-54, 59-55, 59-55. The win lifted Al Bloushi’s record to 11-1.
“I feel great, honestly,” Al Bloushi said. “This is a whole surreal feeling. A gym fight is one thing, but in fight like this, Etihad Arena, one of the biggest stages, where you have had big names like [UFC star] Khabib [Nurmagomedov], NBA, here… I feel like a top-level athlete right now. It feels great. I’m on cloud nine.”
Al Bloushi, who emerged to a vociferous support despite being so early in the evening, added: “There were a lot more [fans] than I expected. I was expecting it to be quiet. But as soon as I walked out I was like, ‘Yo, this is a home crowd; this is people that’s coming to watch boxing'.
"I’m really proud to be a part of an event where people are coming to support. I didn’t expect a lot of people to shout my name, but then they all started, ‘Fahad, Fahad, Fahad’. In my head I’m like, ‘Alright, now is the time to switch that gear, put on a performance, show the world, show the city, show the country that Fahad Al Bloushi is right here, put on a show’. I feel great. I can’t explain it.”
Al Bloushi, who was initially slated to rematch Giorgi Gotchoshvili – the Georgian inflicted the only defeat of his career, in 2019 – rated his performance six out of 10.
“It was a good fight, not the perfect fight,” the super-featherweight said. “I’m still going to learn from here. It’s always a learning curve from what I’m going to do. Last fight taught me a lot; this fight another.
“I made my mum proud, my dad proud, the whole country proud. And putting that statement to the whole country means a lot to me. Because this is my hometown, it gave me everything. And I’m trying to give the same thing back, the same ambition and dreams that the country wants.
“For the whole UAE, all seven emirates. I’m not leaving, not one bit. If I can fight in all seven emirates I’ll do it.”
Saturday’s event represented the first in the “Champion Series”, the multi-year agreement announced this summer between the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and renowned promotion Matchroom Boxing.
On his next move within the sport, Al Bloushi said: “I really hope I can get the better fights. I really want to become No 1 in the Middle East; small goals first and then we can proceed to the big ones.
“I want to become the first Emirati to have the Middle East title in my weight class. So I can put the country on the map as well, and I can inspire a lot of other kids. Because I want to learn how to defend themselves."
Later on Saturday, Sultan Al Nuaimi made it two for two for the UAE, when the Emirati stopped Indian Sohaib Haque in the seventh and penultimate round.
The win, sealed by a sharp right hook to the body, extended the unbeaten Al Nuaimi’s record to 9-0.
“I feel good, I’m happy with my performance,” the super-flyweight said. “It’s just the first round, I think I broke my thumb, or [damaged] a ligament, I just had it checked.
“Just knowing this is the biggest fight in UAE’s history and you performed a really good performance, that’s such an honour to be a part of it.
“And to show the world that there are some local-based fighters that can perform on a high level. We’re just trying to attract people into this sport, because some other people are focusing on other sports and are just ignoring boxing. When it’s growing really big all over the world.
“We just want to attract more local guys into this sport. This is just the beginning.”
In the night’s other bout involving an Emirati, Khorfakkan lightweight Majid Al Naqbi suffered the first defeat of his pro career, losing to Filipino John Lawrence Ordonio by unanimous decision.
Al Naqbi, who came into the contest 7-0, was outworked by his opponent during the four rounds, with the judges scoring the clash 40-36, 40-36, 39-37.
“The opponent was tough, and the game plan wasn’t the same as I wanted to do. Sometimes things don’t work out for me. This is my first loss and I’ll learn from it," said Al Naqbi.
“The way to success is hard. And if you don’t taste failure, you’ll never understand what success truly looks like.
"But I don’t have to give excuses. I’m accepting my loss as a man, I’ll take it. But it is what it is. I believe in God and I believe in my destiny."
On the support he received on Saturday, Al Naqbi added: "It was something people look at you like pride of the country. We, as Arabs, even when you fail, people will be emotional with you and will support you anyway, because they know the truth, who you are, what you’re going through.
“A hundred per cent there’s a fire inside me to come back in a different weight division, and maybe I’ll take a rematch with the guy in future.”
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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.
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
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 720hp
Torque: 770Nm
Price: Dh1,100,000
On sale: now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETelr%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202014%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E65%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20and%20payments%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enearly%20%2430%20million%20so%20far%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Five healthy carbs and how to eat them
Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand
Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat
Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar
Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices
Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants
Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique
Results
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) US$100,000 (Dirt) 2,000m, Winner Bandar, Fernando Jara (jockey), Majed Al Jahouri (trainer).
7.05pm Meydan Classic Listed (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,600m, Winner Well Of Wisdom, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m, Winner Star Safari, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby.
8.15pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner Moqarrar, Fabrice Veron, Erwan Charpy.
8.50pm Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 2 (TB) $300,000 (T) 2,810m, Winner Secret Advisor, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
9.25pm Curlin Stakes Listed (TB) $175,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner Parsimony, William Buick, Doug O’Neill.
10pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m, Winner Simsir, Ronan Whelan, Michael Halford.
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m, Winner Velorum, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby.
Honeymoonish
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elie%20El%20Samaan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENour%20Al%20Ghandour%2C%20Mahmoud%20Boushahri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Who are the Soroptimists?
The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Abdul Jabar Qahraman was meeting supporters in his campaign office in the southern Afghan province of Helmand when a bomb hidden under a sofa exploded on Wednesday.
The blast in the provincial capital Lashkar Gah killed the Afghan election candidate and at least another three people, Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak told reporters. Another three were wounded, while three suspects were detained, he said.
The Taliban – which controls much of Helmand and has vowed to disrupt the October 20 parliamentary elections – claimed responsibility for the attack.
Mr Qahraman was at least the 10th candidate killed so far during the campaign season, and the second from Lashkar Gah this month. Another candidate, Saleh Mohammad Asikzai, was among eight people killed in a suicide attack last week. Most of the slain candidates were murdered in targeted assassinations, including Avtar Singh Khalsa, the first Afghan Sikh to run for the lower house of the parliament.
The same week the Taliban warned candidates to withdraw from the elections. On Wednesday the group issued fresh warnings, calling on educational workers to stop schools from being used as polling centres.
Other must-tries
Tomato and walnut salad
A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.
Badrijani nigvzit
A delicious vegetarian snack or starter. It consists of thinly sliced, fried then cooled aubergine smothered with a thick and creamy walnut sauce and folded or rolled. Take note, even though it seems like you should be able to pick these morsels up with your hands, they’re not as durable as they look. A knife and fork is the way to go.
Pkhali
This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.
UAE's final round of matches
- Sep 1, 2016 Beat Japan 2-1 (away)
- Sep 6, 2016 Lost to Australia 1-0 (home)
- Oct 6, 2016 Beat Thailand 3-1 (home)
- Oct 11, 2016 Lost to Saudi Arabia 3-0 (away)
- Nov 15, 2016 Beat Iraq 2-0 (home)
- Mar 23, 2017 Lost to Japan 2-0 (home)
- Mar 28, 2017 Lost to Australia 2-0 (away)
- June 13, 2017 Drew 1-1 with Thailand (away)
- Aug 29, 2017 v Saudi Arabia (home)
- Sep 5, 2017 v Iraq (away)
How to help
Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
Account name: Dar Al Ber Society
Account Number: 11 530 734
IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734
Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
