UAE national teams ramp up preparations for Gulf Youth Games

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

With the inaugural edition of the Gulf Youth Games approaching, UAE national teams are ramping up their training, determined to shine on home soil.

Hosted by the UAE from April 16 to May 2, the Gulf Youth Games, a multi-sport event featuring 3,500 male and female athletes from across the GCC, will take place under the theme “Our Gulf is One... Our Youth is Promising.”

Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Shakhbout Al Nahyan, President of the Emirates Esports Federation, confirmed that the participants in the games were selected, after holding qualifying tournaments, to determine the best levels of the players. About 180 players participated in the qualifying events.

He explained that the UAE is participating in the Gulf Youth Games with three teams, including the Esports football team, the Valorant team, and the street fighter team.

The President of the Emirates Esports Federation pointed out that the best players representing the three teams have been selected and prepared in a high-level technical manner to achieve the aspirations of Emirati sports in the major event.

He emphasized the importance of the event hosted by the UAE in its first edition and the distinguished role played by the National Olympic Committee and all working committees to ensure the success of the event.

The technical staff of the UAE Karate National Team has selected 22 players to represent the country in the Gulf Youth Games.

 Players of UAE and Oman pose for a picture.

The team's player list in the Kata and Kumite categories includes: Sheikha Khalifa Al Yafei (Kata Girls) and Rashid Ahmed Al Hajjaj (Kata Boys), Sheikha Mohammed Jawhar, Malak Abdullah Ibrahim, Khadija Saeed Al Jasmi, Sheikha Marwan Al Ketbi, Mahra Yaqoub Al Balooshi, Shaza Bilal Al Nubi, Shama Ali Al Balooshi, Sham Marwan Al Ketbi (Kumite Girls), Rashid Khalid Al Suraydi, Khalifa Ahmed Al Hajjaj, Abdul Aziz Salem Hadid, Rashid Saeed Al Zarooni and Rashid Khalil Mubarak, Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, Mubarak Obaid Al Kaabi and Ali Saleh Al Balooshi, Rashid Ahmed Al Hajjaj, Ali Mohammed Alawi and Abdullah Ali Al Ketbi, and Yaqoub Ali Qamber (Kumite Boys).

The teams are undergoing different training stages, through various training methods under the watchful eyes of the coaches, Nader Beigi, Vahid Hosseini, and Nasser Hosseini.

Ahmed Salem Basaleeb, Director of National Teams, expressed his optimism about the participation, saying: "This is the first regional competition of its kind for this group of players in the UAE, and it's happening right here in the country. Our national teams are aiming high – we want to compete in every category and become the champions of the Gulf."

He disclosed that the tournament preparations unfolded in three stages, with the second stage commencing from April 3 to 8.

The third and concluding phase is scheduled to take place at the Sharjah Sports Club from April 12 to 23.

Mohammed Abbas, Executive Director of the UAE Karate Federation, member of the Technical Committee of the World Karate Federation, and Chairman of the Technical Committee for Karate in the Gulf Youth Games, confirmed his committee's readiness to host the tournament's competitions.

He stressed that the Gulf Youth Games, being hosted by the UAE for the first time, have rekindled the hopes of players of his generation of holding a Gulf tournament, providing them with a chance to realize their dream of taking part in a competition of such stature and strengthening inter-Gulf relations.

He pointed out that the location of the tournament was changed and will now take place at Sharjah Club’s Al Hazanah branch.

Regarding the anticipated technical standards and the national team's prospects, Abbas remarked, "The UAE national team consistently excels on the podiums. With the participation of teams from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the competition will be tough, reaching Asian levels.

“We always strive for excellence at the continental level, securing podium finishes across all competitions. We anticipate a 90% chance of clinching gold in certain weight categories for kumite combat, and we expect a strong presence across all categories.”

The Tennis Emirates has approved the participation of three players in the Gulf Youth Games, including Abdulrahman Al Marzouqi, Rashid Al Jasmi, and Marwan Al Marzouqi, amid aspirations for a top spot on the podium following the team's remarkable performances in recent competitions and a runner-up finish at the Gulf Junior Championship.

The trio will undergo daily training at the National Tennis Center at Al Nasr Leisureland in Dubai, under the supervision of coaches Omar Bahrouzyan and Mohammed Hisham Al Barami. Tennis competitions in the upcoming Gulf Youth Games will take place at the Top Spin Academy in Al Jadaf, with the participation of teams from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and the UAE.

Nasser Yousuf Al Marzouqi, the Secretary-General of the Tennis Emirates, emphasized that our goal is crystal clear: deliver top performances and bring home medals.

“Hosting this prestigious event on home soil adds another layer of responsibility, and we're determined to rise to the occasion and climb the podium.

“The pressure is on as we host this prestigious event, but we're determined to rise to the challenge and stand on the podium.

“This tournament is more than just competition; it's a springboard for the future. By experiencing a major sporting event, our young athletes will be nurtured and their talent further developed.

The federation has left no stone unturned in ensuring our players' success. Their training regime has been meticulously planned, and they've recently competed in several high-profile tournaments, including the GCC Tennis Championship, the Asian Championship, and even the World Cup qualifiers. This wealth of experience will be invaluable as they compete on home soil.”

Meanwhile, the UAE national junior volleyball team left for Serbia on Wednesday, to take part in an external camp that will last until April 15 in preparation for the upcoming Gulf Youth Games.

The ‘Whites Volleyball’ delegation mission is headed by Abdullah Al Dahil, member of the Board of Directors of the UAE Volleyball Federation, and includes Ahmed Abbas as team manager, Ibrahim Al Manai as coach, Mohammed Atiq Khalfan as assistant coach, and players Youssef Moussa Al Mazmi, Khalid Mahmoud Sisi, Khalifa Mahmoud Sisi, Abdullah Mohsen Masoud, Hamdan Juma Dreeb, Youssef Qassem Youssef, Amin Ahmed, Rashid Saeed Mohammed, Youssef Darwish Abdullah, Mohammed Hassan Al Balooshi, Abdullah Muhyi, Ahmed Hussein Muz'am, Faisal Sultan Saqr, and Sami Tariq.

The national team will play five friendly matches during the camp in Serbia after concluding their preparations inside the country with a friendly match at Al-Nasr Club Hall against their Omani counterparts.

The technical staff has been keen to ensure that all the players have the opportunity to participate, assess their readiness during this period.

Following their return from Serbia, the team will undergo a closed internal camp without any friendly matches before the volleyball competitions begin at the Gulf Youth Games.