DUBAI // Having returned from the Arab Athletics Championships with a record-breaking medal haul, one could forgive the UAE's 12-man squad - and Ahmed al Kamali, the president of the Athletics Federation - for taking a moment to celebrate their Syrian successes. Al Kamali, however, rued the loss of several key athletes and reminded the medal winners that their triumphs will mean little if they do not keep progressing.
"Last May, as a new Federation under my presidency, we took part in the GCC championships and won 12 medals," said al Kamali, who was elected to his post 15 months ago. "It showed we were the second best country in the Gulf, behind the hosts Saudi. "After we finished the GCC Games we were looking to see where we were among the Arab countries. We prepared in the right way, but unfortunately we had a couple of our best athletes injured.
"One gold and three silver medals represents the highest count we have achieved in any Arab Athletics Championship. "It was a very important step for us and in this short period it is accepted. But we are preparing a team for the long-term." Aside from 20-year old sprinter Omar Juma's 200m gold, Mohammed Abas's silver in the triple jump and team silvers in the 4x100 and 4x400m relay events, several other UAE medal hopes failed to produce results in Damascus.
And al Kamali insisted even those who won medals could have done better. "I am very proud of the team, but we must do better," he added. "The boy our triple jumper, Mohammed Abas, lost to was the same one he beat to gold at the GCC Games only four months ago." @Email:emegson@thenational.ae
