An array of Olympians and stars of sports niche and new are in the South Korean city of Incheon for the 17th Asian Games, which begin on Friday.
The Games bring together about 10,000 athletes for a 16-day multi-sport spectacular second only in scale to the Summer Olympics.
From weightlifting to wushu, rowing to rugby sevens and swimming to sepak takraw, the Games will showcase elite Asian talent in 28 Olympic and eight non-Olympic sports from tomorrow until October 4, with a total of 439 gold medals up for grabs.
While China are certainties to top the medal count for the ninth straight Games, South Korea have set an ambitious target of 90 golds, though the hosts would probably settle for less as long as they finish above fierce rivals Japan.
India, perennial underachievers in world sport, are determined to improve on the 14 golds they won four years ago in Guangzhou, while Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand will battle it out for bragging rights in South East Asia.
Four years on from Guangzhou’s glitzy Games, which by some estimates left the city in debt to the tune of US$32 billion (Dh117.5b), South Korea has spent a reported 1.2 trillion won (US$1.2bn) on construction costs to host the event for a third time. Operational costs are expected to run to 480 billion won.
The huge costs of hosting the multi-sports event may make countries think twice about bidding for future Games.
Vietnam quit as 2019 hosts amid concerns it would not prove financially viable. India and Malaysia both decided against throwing their hats into the ring to host the event, citing financial concerns.
Indonesia looks to be the only candidate willing to step in, and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) will announce its decision on the host at its general assembly in Incheon later this month.
While organisers will hope to keep the focus firmly on sport, China’s strained relations with some of its Asian neighbours over territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas could add spice to the competition.
Beijing has been involved in disputes with Vietnam, the Philippines and other South East Asian countries over claims in the South China Sea, and tensions have also been heightened with Japan and South Korea over Beijing’s declaration of an air defence identification zone.
While “sports diplomacy” can sometimes help smooth bumpy relations between countries, Lee Tai-hwan, director of Seoul’s Sejong Institute, said it would be difficult to expect any concrete improvements arising from the Asian Games.
“While sports events like this can act as a catalyst, the Asian Games won’t be a watershed moment to resolve conflicts and improve the ties in the region,” he said.
“Although we cannot completely rule out the positive effects the Games would have on the geopolitical situation in Asia, they won’t be big or long-lasting.”
For most of the continent’s athletes, the lure of an Asian Games gold medal rests in the fame and fortune it often brings, but for South Korean men there is a bigger prize at stake – an exemption from two years of military service.
South Korea is technically still at war with its northern neighbour after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce and not a peace treaty. It requires all able-bodied men to serve two years in the military.
In a bid to foster elite athletes, South Korea offers exemptions to those winning gold at the Asian Games or a medal of any colour at the Olympics.
Hosting the Games for a third time after Seoul in 1986 and Busan in 2002, South Korea have gold medal favourites in Park Tae-hwan (swimming), Son Yeon-jae (rhythmic gymnastics) and Oh Jin-hyek (recurve archery).
They also have high hopes in shooting, fencing, judo and taekwondo, as well as team events such as baseball and men’s and women’s football.
North Korea will also send athletes to the Games, but negotiations on their participation have been tricky.
Late last month, the North announced they had decided not to send a squad of 350 cheerleaders to Incheon and accused Seoul of “abusing sacred sports and cultural exchange” for a “sinister political purpose”.
While talks continue between the two Koreas over the details of the North’s delegation, Pyongyang is expected to send about 150 athletes to Incheon.
The North, which rewards its top athletes with apartments, cars and cash for raising the country’s image on the world stage, could win several gold medals in weightlifting after earning three at the London Olympics two years ago.
Tokyo has won the right to host the 2020 Summer Olympics, but Japan won only seven gold medals at the London Games two years ago and have finished third in the medal standings behind China and South Korea at the last four Asian Games.
The Japanese are sending 716 athletes to South Korea, with their swim team expected to spearhead the gold medal hunt following their seven wins at the Pan Pacific Championships in Australia last month.
Weightlifter Hiromi Miyake will act as captain and archer Kaori Kawanaka the flag bearer, the first time Japan have picked two women to undertake the duties at an Olympic or Asian Games.
While the powerhouses of North East Asia slug it out for the gold medals, the smaller nations will also be vying to get on the podium, with only Bhutan, Maldives and East Timor yet to win an Asian Games medal.
Perhaps they will find success in some of the less mainstream sports at the Games, such as 10-pin bowling or sepak takraw, where players use their feet, knees, chest and head to send a rattan ball over a net into the opposition court.
Among the sports left off the Incheon programme from the Guangzhou Games were dragon boat racing and board games, on which the Chinese had a virtual monopoly
sports@thenational.ae
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Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
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Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 286hp (petrol), 249hp (diesel)
Torque: 450Nm (petrol), 550Nm (diesel)
Price: Starting at $69,800
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PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150+ employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
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The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
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Round 1: Beat Leolia Jeanjean 6-1, 6-2
Round 2: Beat Naomi Osaka 7-6, 1-6, 7-5
Round 3: Beat Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-2
Round 4: Beat Anastasia Potapova 6-0, 6-0
Quarter-final: Beat Marketa Vondrousova 6-0, 6-2
Semi-final: Beat Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-4
Final: Beat Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2
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The new UAE league has been boosted this season by the arrival of five Pakistanis, who were not released to play last year.
Shaheen Afridi (Desert Vipers)
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Shadab Khan (Desert Vipers)
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Azam Khan (Desert Vipers)
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Mohammed Amir (Desert Vipers)
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Imad Wasim (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders)
The left-handed allrounder, 35, retired from international cricket in November and was subsequently recruited by the Knight Riders.
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Cast: Cillian Murphy, Emily Watson, Eileen Walsh
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What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
When: Friday until March 9
Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.
Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.
Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
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Transmission: nine-speed automatic
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Types of fraud
Phishing: Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
Smishing: The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
Vishing: The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
Identity theft: Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
Prize scams: Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
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Company name: Twig Solutions (with trade name Twig)
Started: 2021
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Based: UAE
Sector: FinTech
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