If you caught the men’s French Open tennis final on Sunday, you might have noticed a subtle surprise between games. Serbian tennis sensation and world number one Novak Djokovic, who claimed the grand slam with a commanding performance, was fuelling his victory with dates. Professional athletes are known to obsess over their diets to gain a competitive edge and Djokovic is certainly no different.
Before the French Open, he revealed he no longer eats meat and has long lived without any gluten. So where do his power and stamina come from? The answer appears to be dates. A rich source of energy, vitamins and minerals, dates are one of the oldest superfoods. High in sugar and easy on the stomach, dates are the perfect snack for professional tennis players like Djokovic and an ideal way to break one’s fast during Ramadan.
Dates have long had many positive meanings in Islam. Hours before the start of Ramadan, it was nice to see an endorsement of their health benefits by one of the world’s greatest tennis players.
The Breadwinner
Director: Nora Twomey
Starring: Saara Chaudry, Soma Chhaya, Laara Sadiq
Three stars
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Fund-raising tips for start-ups
Develop an innovative business concept
Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors
Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19
Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.)
Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months
Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses
Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business
* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
