Category: Athletic

DUBAI: The 9th edition of the National Sports Day Initiative, which is set to be held Thursday, 7th March, under the slogan ‘The UAE brings us together’, will include 7 main events in each emirate, in addition to other sports sub-programmes.

The events will begin in the early hours of Sports Day and will continue for 24 hours continuously.

This comes in response to the call of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and the directives of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and President of the Supreme Committee for the National Sports Day initiative.

This came during a press conference held by the National Olympic Committee in Dubai in the presence of the Executive Team of the National Sports Day and various media. The calendar of events for all emirates that have been registered so far has been announced, by 189 sub-events through 75 government ag
encies and 59 private sector institutions, with the potential to increase the number until the date of the event and exceeding the number of participants in the last edition, which reached 70,000 participants.

At the beginning of the press conference, Abdulaziz Al Salman, Board Member of the National Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Executive Team of the National Sports Day, stressed the importance of the initiative held over the past 8 years, which has established authentic sports and community concepts. Since the first edition in 2015, it has succeeded in being a comprehensive national sports event throughout the year, which includes youth, children, the elderly, individuals, institutions, entities, and bodies to practice various activities, whether sports, heritage, or entertainment activities.

Al Salman indicated that the National Sports Day Initiative aims to enhance sports in society and encourage its members and all its categories to practice sports continuously as a daily lifestyle and behavior
, to make the UAE a healthy and active society in the first place.

During the press conference, the main events of each emirate were announced. The emirate of Fujairah will organise the main event, which is a “walking Marathon” on the Fujairah Corniche and Umbrella Corniche. Umm Al Quwain Creek Waterfront will host the main event. The main event will be held in Ajman on the heritage path, which is a two-hour Walking Event. The RAK Police General Headquarter will organise the main event in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah on Al Qawasim Corniche by holding various sports activities and organising a sports march. emirate of Sharjah’s main event will also be held in Kashisha Park, in addition to various sports events in the Eastern and Central Regions, and the emirate of Abu Dhabi and the emirate of Dubai will host a range of sports activities and programs throughout the day.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, has honoured teams that participated in the hosting and organisation of the UAE Tour 2024, including government entities, strategic partners and volunteers.

H.H. Sheikh Nahyan commended the teams for their efforts in delivering a successful edition of the event and for showcasing the UAE as a leading destination for hosting international sporting events.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, the fifth and the largest edition of the Gov Games to date concluded today at the Dubai Festival City.

Organised in partnership with Official Partner DP World and in cooperation with the Dubai Sports Council, the four-day event saw 194 teams from around the world face off in the most competitive competition yet. More than AED2.8 million in prize money was won across four categories, including the first-ever category for youth.

Opening the Junior Gov Games, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said the substantial participation of teams from around the world in the largest edition of the Gov Games underscores the event’s global reach. This broad participation inspires participants to improve their readiness and uphold leadership qualities, mirroring the spirit of Dubai and its steadfast commitment to excellence, His Highness noted.

Congratulating the winners, His Hig
hness praised the high level of competitiveness displayed across all categories. ‘The teams embodied the competition’s ethos of fostering a positive community impact by promoting a healthy lifestyle. They demonstrated fitness, cooperation and a commitment to excellence,’ Sheikh Hamdan said.

The Gov Games 2024 winners were crowned in the presence of Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti, Secretary-General of Dubai Executive Council, and Ayoub Al Mulla, Chief Operating Officer, We One DP World.

Four categories

The first-ever winner of the Junior Gov Games was F3. They were closely followed by Parkour DXB in second place and with Desert Storm Juniors in third. The winning teams were awarded AED70,000 for the first-place finish, AED56,000 for the runner-up and AED35,000 for the third-place position.

The Battle of the Government tournament category was characterised by valiant performances and intense competition. The winner of the female Battle of the Government tournament was Emirates Schools Establishment, followed by
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority in second place, and Dubai Police in third place.

In the men’s Battle of the Government tournament, General Directorate of Civil Defence – Dubai claimed the top spot, followed by Ajman Government in second place, and Dubai State Security in third place.

The Battle of the Community tournament was won by NAS, followed by Block20 x Empire in second place, while Spirit Level secured third place.

In the Battle of the Cities tournament, teams from around the globe participated, representing countries such as the UAE, Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Norway, the UK, the US, Spain, Italy, Germany, Uzbekistan, Poland, Czechia, Russia, Slovakia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, France and Portugal.

Copenhagen, Denmark won the City Challenge category for the second consecutive year, followed by Moscow, Russia in second place, and Saint Petersburg, Russia in third place.

The winners of each category won AED500,000, while second place teams earned AED250,000 and third place were awarded
AED150,000.

In its fifth edition, Gov Games attracted over 17,000 spectators, many of them being families. The competition also attracted leaders from various government entities who came to show their support and motivate their colleagues.

The fifth edition of the Gov Games cemented the competition as one of Dubai’s most significant sporting events, attracting broad international participation. It further underscored Dubai’s ability to host and organise major international events.

The Gov Games 2024 is supported by a distinguished roster of partners and sponsors, including DP World as the Official Partner, the Dubai Sports Council as a Strategic Sponsor, and esteemed Golden Sponsors like Emirates General Petroleum Corporation (Emarat), Damac Properties, and Emirates Post Group (7X), and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and First Abu Dhabi Bank as silver sponsors, in addition to Dubai Festival City, Home Bakery, Al Fares International Tents, Jeep and Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Com
pany (du) in addition to Event’s Security Committee, Dubai Health and Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services.

Source: Emirates News Agency

BALNEÁRIO CAMBORIÚ: After a night of duels for the books, the Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship delivered the grand tournament that fight fans were expecting. Held on 2nd March in the Brazilian city of Balneário Camboriú, the ADXC 3 brought its famous cage, merciless ruleset, and the best athletes from Jiu-Jitsu and MMA to the Expocentro as one of the shows of the BC Fight Week. And what a show it was, with the organisation successfully bringing all the things that made ADXC captivating to its first foreign venture.

In the Jiu-Jitsu Main Event, the Brazilian Jansen Gomes paid back the Portuguese Bruno Lima’s provocation and got the victory. With exceptional work in the use of the cage, Jansen opened the fight with a beautiful double leg takedown, using the cage and the grips on the pants to throw Bruno to the ground later on and even taking his opponent’s back twice over the five three-minute rounds. After the win, Jansen talked about his gridwork and left a sharp message to his opponent, saying, “I prepared in
Dubai with Thiago Sá and worked hard to understand the cage during training to arrive well-prepared. I just want to take this chance to give a message to Bruno Lima: You’re a long way from home. This is Brazil!”

In the Grappling Main Event, Beatriz Mesquita guaranteed her favouritism by quickly submitting Jennifer Maia. After taking her opponent down with a beautiful uchimata, Beatriz put pressure from the top, attempted a kimura, slid to the back, and submitted with a rear naked choke just over 2 minutes into the first round.

“I loved the adrenaline of fighting in the cage and I can’t wait to get back. I wanted to issue a challenge to any MMA athletes who think they are good at Grappling and submissions. I challenge any of them to face me here in the ADXC cage,” stated Beatriz after her victory.

Shining bright in the Preliminary Card, the UAE rising star Zayed Alkatheeri made his country proud as he landed yet another victory on foreign soil. Facing the Brazilian Oziel Santos in a Jiu-Jitsu bout, Zayed sh
owed outstanding technical prowess and shrewdness, using the ADXC cage as another weapon in his arsenal as he unleashed his dangerous foot attacks throughout the duel. After the three rounds were up, there was really only one choice and Zayed rose as the ADXC 3 champion.

Also on the card, Rayron Gracie represented the famous Jiu-Jitsu family surname by submitting Fellipe Andrew with a lapel choke in the Jiu-Jitsu Co-Main Event. Henrique Ceconi got the win in the Grappling Co-Main Event after showing impressive stamina and strength in his battle against Roberto Cyborg.

Source: Emirates News Agency

SIENA: Day one of the season for Pogacar, 81 km of solo attack, 2’44’ on the first chaser: the numbers behind the second career success of Tadej Pogacar at Strade Bianche.

The Slovenian talent from UAE Team Emirates could not ask for a better debut in 2024, after he closed the previous season with the victory in Il Lombardia.

He made his move on the sector of Monte Sante Marie, where teammate Tim Wellens raised the pace of the head group, preparing the attack of Pogacar, who went solo when there were 81 km left to the arrival.

The advantage on the rivals raised immediately, with a maximum of 3’40’: with Tom Skuijns (Lidl-Trek, 2nd) and Maxim Van Gils (Lotto-Dstny, 3rd) behind. Pogacar completed a cycling masterpiece, obtaining in Piazza del Campo in Siena his 64th career victory, and the 11th success for UAE Team Emirates in 2024.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: The Dubai Racing Club (DRC) announced the winners of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Racing Excellence Awards during the Super Saturday card at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday.

The awards are given in seven categories: Best Horse, Best Jockey, Best Trainer, Best Owner, People’s Choice, Lifetime Achievement and Excellence Award. These are based on criteria laid out by Dubai Racing Club, overseen by the Trustee’s Committee.

The Best Horse Award went to outstanding six-time Group 1 winner Equinox, whose owners, Silk Racing, were honoured with the Best Owner Award. The award is decided by the top-rated horse to have competed at the Dubai World Cup meeting.

A superb 2023 for Aidan O’Brien, in which he won 20 Group 1 races, saw him win the Best Trainer award, while his stable jockey, Ryan Moore, was crowned Best Jockey, having won 19 top level races in 2023.

In a first for the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Horseracing Excellence awards, there were two winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award; Co
lonel Ali Khamis Al Jafleh and Sheikh Abdulla Al Qasemi both being recognised for their integral roles in establishing racing in the UAE.

The winner of the Excellence Award went to Saeed Bin Suroor, one of the most popular trainers in the UAE, whose nine Dubai World Cup wins and global victories helped to promote racing in Dubai and the benefits of training horses in the UAE.

The award winners are selected on criteria designated by the Dubai Racing Club (DRC), overseen by the Trustee’s Committee. The public selects the People’s Choice Award. The full list of winners are as follows:

Best Horse: Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn})

Best Jockey: Ryan Moore

Best Trainer: Aidan O’Brien

Best Owner: Silk Racing

People’s Choice: Hamdan Sultan Al Sabusi

Lifetime Achievement (Joint Awards): Colonel Ali Khamis Al Jafleh and Sheikh Abdulla Al Qasemi

Excellence Award: Saeed bin Suroor

Source: Emirates News Agency