DUBAI// A teenager who as a three-year-old was inspired to take to the ice after watching her mum perform on two blades has set her sights on taking part in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Amira Abdul Moati is so determined to be a professional ice skater she trains for six hours a day, six days a week in the hope of making the games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
But in the meantime, the 14-year-old is focusing her attention on the UAE Open Figure Skating Championships in Dubai on May 16 and 17.
“I’ve been training specially for this event and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Amira, whose mother is Russian and father Egyptian.
“I just love everything about ice skating, from the clothes to the music and routines and my dream is to make it to the next Winter Olympics in South Korea.”
She will be taking part in the platinum category, for the most accomplished skaters, and will perform three routines over the course of the championship weekend.
Amira took her first steps on ice after accompanying her mother, Larissa Zaplatinskaia, to an ice rink.
“I wanted to go on the ice with her so she got me some skates,” Amira said. “I just copied my mum and found it easy to skate.”
At the age of five she moved to Chelabinski near the Ural mountains in Russia, near her mother’s parents to train with a skating coach.
“They would visit me to check up on me and my mum would visit regularly from Dubai,” Amira said. “I was in Russia for about five years and then when I was about 10 I moved to Dubai to live with my mum.”
A typical day for Amira begins at 6am when she goes to the gym for 90 minutes, followed by two to three hours of training on the ice. After that it is time for homework and then another short gym session with her mother in the evening before bedtime.
Despite her young age, Amira already has experience of competing in international competitions in Bulgaria, Russia and Austria as well as the past four UAE open championships.
She is aiming to represent Egypt at the 2018 games because of her dual nationality, although there are hurdles that need to be overcome before that can happen.
“Egypt is not a member of the International Skating Union, which means we have to set one up there before she has a chance of competing,” said Mrs Zaplatinskaia, the founder of Ice Skating Stars Dubai Ice Skating Academy.
That in itself is a three-year process, but she is hopeful of success.
“I don’t have a background in ice skating but my daughter has been skating since the age of three,” she said.
Amira is trained by her mother, who follows the Russian training curriculum.
“Amira’s never been afraid of the ice and after her first experience has made really good progress. She told me she wanted to become a professional ice skater and I’m supporting her.”
Although ice skating is a minority sport in the UAE there are seven clubs located across the country.
“Watching someone ice skate live is completely different to watching it on TV,” said Mr Zaplatinskaia. “There is the energy from the crowd that you see and then there is the amazing speed at which the skaters perform their routines.
“It’s really amazing to see how fast they move and watching on TV doesn’t really show that.
“One of the things we want to do is encourage more people to attend the UAE open championships because that will hopefully get more people interested in the sport.”
The competition is for ages 5 to 45. The UAE Open Figure Skating Championships take place at the Al Nasr Leisureland Ice rink in Dubai on May 16 and 17.
Entrance to the event is open to the public and free.
nhanif@thenational.ae
Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
Directed by: RS Prasanna
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
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Company%C2%A0profile
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The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe
Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
Breast cancer in men: the facts
1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.
2) Symptoms can include a lump, discharge, swollen glands or a rash.
3) People with a history of cancer in the family can be more susceptible.
4) Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy but early diagnosis is the key.
5) Anyone concerned is urged to contact their doctor
BRAZIL%20SQUAD
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
