Medals show development on track, says UAE Athletics Federation chief Ahmad Al Kamali

But officials say they are looking for better coaching and local support in an awards ceremony in Dubai. Gary Meenaghan reports.

Bethlem Desaleyn won two gold medals for the UAE in the Asian Athletics Championships. Courtesy of Paul Kitagaki Jr / zumapress.com

DUBAI // Ahmad Al Kamali, president of the UAE Athletics Federation, has expressed his satisfaction with the development of the country’s athletes ahead of next year’s Olympic Games, but he urged those involved with the sport off the track to raise their game.

Two of the Emirates’ elite athletes and two of the country’s juniors were honoured by the federation on Thursday at a low-key Dubai ceremony celebrating successes at last week’s Asian Athletics Championships in China and the Arab Junior Athletics Championships in Tunisia.

In the central Chinese city of Wuhan, Bethlem Desaleyn won two gold medals in the 1,500-metre race and the 5,000m event, while compatriot Alia Mohammed Saeed finished narrowly behind in the 5,000m but took gold over 10,000m.

In Tunis, the UAE was represented in high jump for the first time with Alia Nasser Al Hammadi, 17, taking the silver medal. Fatima Al Hosani, 15, claimed silver in the discus throw.

“I am happy because these results give us a lot of hope that, in the future, we can be close to the big podiums – Olympics and world championships,” said Al Kamali, who confirmed three female athletes will travel to Rio de Janeiro for next summer’s Games, adding that one male is close to meeting the qualifying time for racewalking.

“For me, this is proof that, courtesy of our programme, a new generation of Emirati athletes are coming through.”

While the performance on the track is progressing as planned, Al Kamali said he was “not satisfied” with two elements of off-track performance: coaching and community backing.

Fatma Zuhour, the former women’s discus coach, will be replaced next week by a Bulgarian once ranked No 2 in the world, Al Kamali said.

“We are restructuring the coaching system and hope it will improve things for the future,” he said.

“We have lots of work going on behind the scenes. Yes, we have had silver medals, but that is not our target. We are hoping that in the future Fatima can go to the very top. She is ready to train, concentrating and has strong family support.”

Al Hosani said she is already seeing the effects of her success at home in Sharjah. “At school, people now say they have seen me on TV, ask me for photographs and want to be my friend. It’s like I am famous,” she said.

Al Kamali also called on local companies to show their support for the country. On Friday, Desaleyn – who competed at the London Olympics in 2012 – appeared wearing hot-pink Nike trainers but otherwise brand-free, sponsor-free sportswear.

“These girls are very high-level athletes,” he said. “Alia is top eight in the world and we hope to get some companies to sponsor her. Betty is also at a very high level, in good shape, a winner in Asia with Olympic experience and hopes of making the final.

“It’s not that we need them on board to cover our costs, but we would love to have support from the private sector because, at the end of the day, it is that support that will bring UAE sport to a higher level.”

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