Yousif Mirza is targeting winning a medal at the Asian Games in Indonesia to make up for the heartache of missing out on his two previous attempts.
The UAE Team Emirates rider narrowly missed out on a podium finish when finishing fourth at both Guangdong, China, in 2010, and in South Korea four years later.
Mirza, 29, is making his third appearance at the Games and is targeting medals in both the road race and the omnium at the continental games taking place in Jakarta and Palembang from August 18 to September 2.
“Everyone has an objective for the year and for me to win a medal at the Asian Games in Jakarta is my main goal,” Mirza said during the launch of the UAE Team Emirates Youth Academy at Dubai Sports World on Tuesday.
“I won the Asian Championship in Malaysia in February in 2018. It will be a similar field at the Asian Games, I believe. But of course it’s a new race and a lot may have changed.
“I have been dreaming about an Asian Games medal since my first appearance in 2010.
“In 2014 I was sure I would win and again missed out on it. So this time I want to win. I think an Asian Games medal can make a huge difference for the sport here in the UAE.”
“I broke away too early and they were all following me in the last 15 kilometres or so,” he said.
“I pressed a bit too hard and paid the price. This time I don’t want to repeat that mistake; I feel I’m more experienced and better prepared.”
Mirza said his improvement since joining the UAE Team Emirates when the team was founded two years ago will boost his chances of success at the Games.
“I did a lot of races this season and that has put me in a good shape to compete at the Asian level," he said.
“I suffered a crash last week in Slovenia and needed a little time to recover. I started training just two days ago but will be in the best of shape for the Japan Cup on Sunday.
“The Japan Cup will be my final race before the Asian Games. From there, I’ll be leaving for Italy to train with my colleagues in the UAE Team Emirates and then I do a tour in Holland. From there I will fly straight to Indonesia for the Asian Games.”
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Read more:
Emirati cyclist wins Outstanding UAE Athlete of 2017 award
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Commenting on the UAE Team Emirates Youth Academy, which will run as part of the official Dubai Sports World Summer Camp programme from July 8-29, Mirza said he hoped it would attract more young Emiratis to cycling.
“It’s a big step forward and I was very excited when I heard about the pathway created for the next generation of cyclists,” he said.
“Of course, like every sport, cycling too needs time but this is a good start. This programme is a great way to help youngsters get into cycling and doing it indoors means they can get fit and stay healthy even during our hot summer months.”
The three-week initiative – which targets boys and girls age 11-16 - coincides with the Tour de France, which runs from July 7-29.
Joining Mirza at the launch was his UAE Team Emirates teammate Vegard Stake Laengen, who competed in last year’s Tour de France and was recently crowned Norway's Road Race champion.
“The Tour de France is one of the biggest sporting spectacles on the planet and the most demanding race for a pro cyclist to compete in,” he said.
“We wanted to use the excitement around this year’s event to inspire young people from across the UAE to join our Youth Academy and try out indoor cycling. Who knows, maybe this is where we find the next Yousif Mirza.”
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Moonfall
Director: Rolan Emmerich
Stars: Patrick Wilson, Halle Berry
Rating: 3/5
A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
Junichiro Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
Daunt Books
MATCH INFO
Al Jazira 3 (O Abdulrahman 43', Kenno 82', Mabkhout 90 4')
Al Ain 1 (Laba 39')
Red cards: Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain)
The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3
Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)
Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)
Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Volunteers offer workers a lifeline
Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.
When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.
Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.
Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.
“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.
Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.
“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.
Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
57%20Seconds
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
OPENING FIXTURES
Saturday September 12
Crystal Palace v Southampton
Fulham v Arsenal
Liverpool v Leeds United
Tottenham v Everton
West Brom v Leicester
West Ham v Newcastle
Monday September 14
Brighton v Chelsea
Sheffield United v Wolves
To be rescheduled
Burnley v Manchester United
Manchester City v Aston Villa
'Laal Kaptaan'
Director: Navdeep Singh
Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Manav Vij, Deepak Dobriyal, Zoya Hussain
Rating: 2/5
UAE rugby season
FIXTURES
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers v Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Division 1
Dubai Sharks v Dubai Hurricanes II
Al Ain Amblers v Dubai Knights Eagles II
Dubai Tigers II v Abu Dhabi Saracens
Jebel Ali Dragons II v Abu Dhabi Harlequins II
Sharjah Wanderers v Dubai Exiles II
LAST SEASON
West Asia Premiership
Winners – Bahrain
Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership
Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners – Dubai Hurricanes
Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference
Winners – Dubai Tigers
Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
