Arm wrestling is one of the most uncomplicated and easily gauged tests of strength. Theoretically, any two people can do it anywhere.
Once you put it in a competition format, the playing field is far and wide. So to be any good, you have to be better than almost everyone else.
Mazahir Saidu is definitely good. In fact, he is one of the best in the business.
The Sharjah-based arm wrestler is one of the leading 100kg+ arm wrestlers in the UAE and has been crowned champion in his division in India.
The Keralite, 29, has won various amateur and professional competitions in the UAE and overseas. In May this year, he won bronze at the Asian Armwrestling Championship, held in Ajman.
And after almost 10 years in the sport, which included significant breaks for his higher education studies, Mazahir has now reached the stage where he is ready to take the next step – the inaugural Pro Panja League arm wrestling competition in India at the end of the month.
The life of any professional athlete is intense. Mazahir has an intense one, too. And he manages it while working as a chartered accountant at Shurooq - Sharjah Investment and Development Authority.
An accountant and a professional arm wrestler? It is a unique journey that started a decade ago in India.
“I did not know this was a professional sport until I went to India for higher studies in 2012,” Mazahir tells The National.
“I went to a gym in Kochi and there I met Rahul Panicker [a well-known arm wrestler in India] in 2014. He got me into arm wrestling, and I realised my potential. After seven months, I won a national event in India.”
He came back to the UAE in 2016 and won a championship under the auspices of the Emirates Body Building Federation.
Mazahir took a break from 2016 to 2019 to complete his accountancy studies while also working as a consultant in Saudi Arabia.
He later joined Shurooq and has since gone to great lengths to maintain his levels in arm wrestling, while working as deputy manager, finance.
“Balancing work and professional sports is very difficult. It is all about passion. I work from 8-5 but since I am in finance, I routinely work past 6pm. Then I go home, have a pre-workout meal and begin training from 8.30pm until midnight. This routine never stops.”
It is a routine that has helped Mazahir make a name for himself in the UAE, that has hosted many top arm wrestling tournaments, including King of the Table in June.
“King of the Table and East v West are big tournaments in the sport. But the level of exposure and publicity Pro Panja is giving is at another level,” Mazahir, who is coached by European champion Maksym Polishchuk, said.
“This is going to be one of the biggest events the sport has seen. Being shown on Sony Sports is going to be a game changer. A lot of international players have been contacting us to be a part of the league.”
The Pro Panja League is the brainchild of Bollywood actors Parvin Dabas and Preeti Jhangiani. The league was formed in 2020 and has held various ranking tournaments and exhibition events in the build-up to the inaugural league season this year.
A total of 180 players have ben shortlisted into six teams for the league that will take place in New Delhi.
Mazahir made the cut after becoming the 100kg+ national champion during a ranking tournament in Gwalior in July last year.
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The hope is that since arm wrestling is a sport that can be understood and enjoyed by people from all walks of life, there should be significant interest. Just like it was for the traditional Indian sport of kabaddi which has become one of the fastest growing professional sports in the country following the rise of Pro Kabaddi League.
“In the arm wrestling community, I am already well known. But the sport has not reached the general public like other mainstream sports. But with Sony Sports, we are hoping common people will understand and accept it,” Mazahir says.
“In a few weeks, we will be on air and people will see us and hopefully love this sport. It’s something a common person can follow and it is very entertaining.”
The Pro Panja League will be held from July 28 to August 13. 'Panja' translates to arm wrestling in Hindi.
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
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.
RACE CARD
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
The biog
Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists.
Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
The Lowdown
Us
Director: Jordan Peele
Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseqph, Evan Alex and Elisabeth Moss
Rating: 4/5
'Munich: The Edge of War'
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The Bio
Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride
She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.
Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years
Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves
She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in
The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass
Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
Engine: 80 kWh four-wheel-drive
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: From Dh280,000
More coverage from the Future Forum
Scoreline
Liverpool 4
Oxlade-Chamberlain 9', Firmino 59', Mane 61', Salah 68'
Manchester City 3
Sane 40', Bernardo Silva 84', Gundogan 90' 1
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