TRAILBLAZERS AT ASIAN GAMES RAISE THE BAR FOR EMIRATI WOMEN’S DAY AND NEXT GENERATION
Mahra Al Hanaei’s silver medal and Ashwaq Al Koori’s historic refereeing at Games are feats they hope will inspire women to follow their dreams
More proof of the advances women have made in the UAE can be found at the Asian Games, where two Emiratis have firmly made their mark.
And that proof is timely as the nation celebrates Emirati Women’s Day today.
On Friday, Mahra Al Hanaei put UAE women’s jiu-jitsu on the world map when she won a silver medal in the 49-kilogram division.
Al Hanaei lost narrowly to Jessa Khan of Cambodia in the final after defeating opponents from Afghanistan, Vietnam and Mongolia.
She was particularly impressive against Thi Thanh Minh Duong, her Vietnamese rival in the semi-finals, which she won 14-0.
Aged only 17, it is difficult to imagine anyone stopping Al Hanaei from the top spot in the years to come.
The other blazing a trail in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta is Ashwaq Al Koori, who became the first Emirati woman to officiate over a jiu-jitsu bout at the Games.
Al Koori, 21, may have been pushed in at the deep end but anyone watching the way she handled the job would have been proud of her skill, judgement and temperament.
Now Al Hanaei and Al Koori are determined to inspire others with their example, especially on Emirati Women’s Day.
“Today Emirati women are in important positions, including in the Federal Government, and are contributing in building our nation in all spheres, be it at home or in professional careers,” Al Hanaei told The National.
“They are excelling in academics and sports, and there are no limits to them. I want be a role model to inspire Emirati women to chase their dreams and cherish the milestones they achieve.”
Al Koori, who was a silver medallist at the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship in March, has a message for Emirati mothers and sisters: “Follow your passion and life goals like me, and you will definitely succeed.”
The simple message belies the hard work the two have put in to achieve their goals.
Al Koori was in the middle of a course in electrical engineering at Khalifa University, from where she has now graduated, while attending a referee workshop every weekend for six months.
“I have been practising and taking part in competitions for more than nine years, and the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation had called for applications from Emirati females,” said Al Koori, a purple belt in the martial art.
“I never expected to officiate at the Asian Games but here I am on the big stage.”
Al Hanaei is not the only young woman in her family to shine in the spotlight. Her sister Maha, 18, is also in the national team, while Hanna, 14, is a budding jiu-jitsu player.
Sport is only one of the areas to which they aspire.
Al Hanaei wants to become a doctor, while Maha is studying at the Higher Colleges of Technology in Al Ain to become an aeronautical engineer.
Meanwhile, Hessa Al Shamsi, one of Al Hanaei’s teammates, wants to become an ambassador for her country. She chose to represent her country at the Games despite being selected for a sports ambassadors’ programme.
“Women have a lot of abilities, and in the UAE it’s such an honour for us to show all the people what we have and what we are capable of doing,” said Al Shamsi, 17.
“I would say nothing is impossible. If you asked me four
Follow your passion and life goals like me, and you will definitely succeed ASHWAQ AL KOORI First women jiu-jitsu referee at Asian Games
years ago where I would reach, I wouldn’t have been able to answer. I’m in the national team. Suddenly you realise how much you have done to reach this point.”