Triathlon set for huge boost in the UAE
Board endorses strategy for talent hunting in schools and universities
The board of directors of the UAE Triathlon Federation (UAE TF) will be eyeing a move into unchartered territory while tapping talent at university and school level.
The board of directors met under the chairmanship of Ahmad Ali Al Haj earlier this week and decided that a comparatively new sport such as triathlon can only survive if there is a push for talent at the grassroots level.
“We need to look at talent that will sustain the sport of triathlon in the UAE. We have to start somewhere, and we feel that there can be no better choice than finding new triathletes in schools, universities and other institutions in the UAE. This is the plan of action for the moment and we are deliberating the right way to go about with the task at hand,” Al Haj told media after the meeting.
The UAE TF has already hosted an ITU Level 1 Coaching Course at the Dubai Police Officers Club in the first week of May with an eye to getting more training staff involved in grassroots level training when schools reopen after summer.
“Secondly, we need all likeminded people to come aboard and see how they can assist in pushing this sport forward,” he added.
The UAE TF official, who was heading the meeting in place of Chairman Khalid Abdul Karim Al Fahim, insisted that hand-picked coaches and training staff will move into schools and universities after the summer break to identify and then train youngsters. “We need to work on a two-pronged strategy at the moment. We need to have an infrastructure in place first, and at the same time we need the triathletes who can be regular participants at domestic competitions. We will then identify those showing promise and form a database, after which we will ensure they receive specialised training with an eye on the future,” Al Haj added.
Triathlon racing in the UAE received a boost following the successful hosting of the third edition of the ITU World Triathlon in Abu Dhabi in March. The Chairman: Khalid Abdul Karim Al Fahim Deputy Chairman: Ahmad Ali Al Haj General Secretary: Abdul Malek Mohammad Al Jani Members: Ahmad Nasser Al Shamsi; Asma Yousuf Al Janahi; Hamad Mubarak Al Harthy; Amer Qasim Al Ameri race, held on the iconic Yas Island as the season opener of the World Triathlon Series, saw seven-time world champion Javier Gomez and world number one Andrea Hewitt crowned champions in the men’s and women’s categories.
“The presence of such highclass triathletes can only be a huge motivation for youngsters as they get the opportunity to watch them in action and even compete with them,” Al Haj said.
Meanwhile, Abdullah Al Amlah Al Falasi, Abdullah Hussain Farhan and Faris Al Za’abi will represent the UAE at the 2017 Astana ASTC Sprint Triathlon Asian Cup and Central Asian Championships to be held in Kazakhstan July 29-30.