Abdulsalam Farah hopes to follow in the footsteps of his hero and namesake Mo Farah and become a champion long distance runner.
Just like Britain's most successful track athlete, Abdulsalam Farah is of Somali heritage but grew up in Al Ain.
Abdulsalam, 19, said he became hooked on athletics after watching Mo Farah on TV.
"I used to watch athletics from a young age on television and Mo Farah was a name that drew my attention for the simple reason he had my surname and he was from Somalia," Abdulsalam told The National.
Mo Farah's achievements include back-to-back gold medals in both the 5,000 and 10,000 metres at the London and Rio Olympics as well as seven World Championship gold medals.
“He is my role model," Abdulsalam said. "I want to follow on his path. I want to be better than him. People may think I am crazy but nobody becomes a world champion without a start. I believe I can achieve my objectives if I work towards my goals.”
Abdulsalam holds several records in the youth division in the UAE and comes from good stock. Abdi Bile, Somalia's most decorated track and field star and winner of the 1,500m at the 1987 World Championships in Rome, is a distant relative. “I haven’t met him as I lived all my life here in the UAE but I came to know the connection through my father,” Abdulsalam said.
The youngest in a family of eight boys and one girl, Abdulsalam joined Al Ain Club athletic team in 2017 and went on to set several national records including in road races over 5km and 10km. He also won the 1,500m gold medal at the Gulf University Games in Kuwait.
In 2018, he travelled to Kenya at his own expense to train under Jimmy Beauttah, better known to Kenyans as 'Coach Simba', at Kip Keino's High Performance Training Centre where he spent three months training at high altitude.
Last year, he twice travelled to Ethiopia to train alongside elite athletes such as Kenya's Micah Kogo, the 10,000m Olympic bronze medallist at Beijing 2008, Genzebe Dibaba, the female Ethiopian who won silver in the 1,500m at Rio four years ago, and Djibouti’s 2016 IAAF Diamond League 1,000m chaampion Ayanleh Souleiman.
Abdulsalam was set to return to Kenya in June, but with travel restrictions in place due to the Covid-19 outbreak, that looks unlikely. He hopes to run at the rescheduled World University Cross Country Championship next year in Morocco after it was postponed from the original date of March 7.
Abdulsalam enrolled at Al Ain University in January 2019 to study for a degree in Health and Physical Education where he first encountered Fahad bin Braik, a former UAE national team distance runner and now his manager.
“I heard from my friends in the athletics circle of a teenage distance runner with a lot of potential and I decided to meet him,” Bin Braik said.
“That’s how our relationship began and I truly believe he has the potential to make it big.
“This boy has the passion and the potential but I would like to see him achieve success in both his academics and athletics,” he added.
“I was really fortunate to get connected with Fahad." Abdulsalam said. "He’s guided me in my athletics career in the last three years and will continue to do so until I achieve my objectives. He’s not only a manager but an older brother to me.”
With global sports still suffering from a lack of competition due to the coronavirus pandemic, Abdulsalam's future plans, as far as international competition, are on hold.
When it is safe to compete, Abdulsalam said his immediate target is the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. He hopes to do so representing the UAE, rather than Somalia.
“My main goal is to participate in the IAAF World Championships in 2023. I wish I get to run under the UAE flag as I was born here," he said.
“I have approached both the UAE Athletics Federation and the UAE National Olympic Committee to say that I’ll run under their flag without any obligation on monetary gains or a passport.
“I want to show gratitude for the country that has given me free education and free health services. I just need the chance. They have told me that they’ll look into my matter. Therefore, fingers crossed on that."
I want to show gratitude for the country that has given me free education and free health services. I just need the chance. They have told me that they'll look into my matter. Therefore, fingers crossed on that
Bin Braik, 39, represented the UAE for 14 years before hanging up his running shoes four years ago.
He cites a critical lack of support as one of the reasons he was unable to realise his own dreams and urged the authorities to invest in athletes like Abdulsalam if they hope to see the UAE represented on the track at future Olympics.
He said: “Abdulsalam has the potential and I urge the national companies to step forward and help him build his career as a professional.”
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
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
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'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness'
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams
Rating: 3/5
Selected fixtures
All times UAE
Wednesday
Poland v Portugal 10.45pm
Russia v Sweden 10.45pm
Friday
Belgium v Switzerland 10.45pm
Croatia v England 10.45pm
Saturday
Netherlands v Germany 10.45pm
Rep of Ireland v Denmark 10.45pm
Sunday
Poland v Italy 10.45pm
Monday
Spain v England 10.45pm
Tuesday
France v Germany 10.45pm
Rep of Ireland v Wales 10.45pm
FIGHT%20CARD
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ASSASSIN'S%20CREED%20MIRAGE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs
Engine: 4 liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous electric motors placed at each wheel
Battery: Rimac 120kWh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power: 1877bhp
Torque: 2300Nm
Price: Dh7,500,00
On sale: Now
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.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
UAE's role in anti-extremism recognised
General John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution research group, commended the role the UAE has played in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
He told a Globsec debate of the UAE’s "hugely outsized" role in the fight against Isis.
"It’s trite these days to say that any country punches above its weight, but in every possible way the Emirates did, both militarily, and very importantly, the UAE was extraordinarily helpful on getting to the issue of violent extremism," he said.
He also noted the impact that Hedayah, among others in the UAE, has played in addressing violent extremism.
Scoreline
Liverpool 4
Oxlade-Chamberlain 9', Firmino 59', Mane 61', Salah 68'
Manchester City 3
Sane 40', Bernardo Silva 84', Gundogan 90' 1
List of alleged parties
May 15 2020: PM and Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at
least 17 staff members
May 20 2020: PM and Carrie attend 'bring your own booze'
party
Nov 27 2020: PM gives speech at leaving do for his staff
Dec 10 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary
Gavin Williamson
Dec 13 2020: PM and Carrie throw a flat party
Dec 14 2020: London mayor candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff party at Conservative
Party headquarters
Dec 15 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
Dec 18 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
Asia Cup Qualifier
Venue: Kuala Lumpur
Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September
Fixtures:
Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6: Final
Asia Cup
Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Schedule: Sep 15-28
Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
- Steve Baker
- Peter Bone
- Ben Bradley
- Andrew Bridgen
- Maria Caulfield
- Simon Clarke
- Philip Davies
- Nadine Dorries
- James Duddridge
- Mark Francois
- Chris Green
- Adam Holloway
- Andrea Jenkyns
- Anne-Marie Morris
- Sheryll Murray
- Jacob Rees-Mogg
- Laurence Robertson
- Lee Rowley
- Henry Smith
- Martin Vickers
- John Whittingdale
Subscribe to Beyond the Headlines
The low down
Producers: Uniglobe Entertainment & Vision Films
Director: Namrata Singh Gujral
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Nargis Fakhri, Bo Derek, Candy Clark
Rating: 2/5
Boston%20Strangler
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Nick's journey in numbers
Countries so far: 85
Flights: 149
Steps: 3.78 million
Calories: 220,000
Floors climbed: 2,000
Donations: GPB37,300
Prostate checks: 5
Blisters: 15
Bumps on the head: 2
Dog bites: 1
Three ways to get a gratitude glow
By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.
- During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
- As you finish your skincare routine, look yourself in the eye and speak an affirmation, such as: “I am grateful for every part of me, including my ability to take care of my skin.”
- In the evening, take some deep breaths, notice how your skin feels, and listen for what your skin is grateful for.
