Sergiu Toma won the bronze medal at the Rio Olympics. He went through all the tedious and bureaucratic anti-doping procedures post his victory to clinch his medal in the 81kg judo class. He then fulfilled all his media duties.
And then, when he was done with it all, he went and celebrated in the now apparently traditional fashion of many winning Olympians: by dining out on some fast food.
“Before the fights, my dinner was just one or two Kiwi [fruits] and bananas,” Toma said at the UAE Wrestling & Judo Federation headquarters in Abu Dhabi on Monday as he recalled his actions after his triumph on August 9.
“Now after I won the medal and got back to the village I could drink some coke and have some nice food, a McDonald’s.”
So Toma joined the likes of the US gymnast Simone Biles, the Fiji rugby sevens gold medallists and the New Zealand women’s rugby sevens side, as well as, of course, Usain Bolt who chomped down his favourite nuggets after winning his ninth Olympic gold medal.
More from Rio 2016:
• Gallery: Closing Ceremony in pictures
• India's heroes: Patriarchal India warmly welcome back their two female Olympic medallists
• Reflecting on Rio 2016: Closing ceremony highlights the positives of an often-bizarre Olympics
Toma was making his first public appearance in the UAE on Monday after bringing home the country’s second ever Olympic medal. And this is not the last medal he plans on bringing home.
Asked where he saw himself in four year’s time, the response was unequivocal: “On the pedestal, in Tokyo 2020.”
Having come so close to getting into the final in Rio — he narrowly lost to the eventual gold medallist, Russian Khasan Khalmurzaev — Toma is confident he can go better at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
“Yes of course I am confident because if in the past the Olympic medal was a big, big dream, now that it is here, there is more confidence in my abilities and it looks a possibility now to win gold.”
Toma said there was a little regret that he did not get into the final, having only lost to Khasan Khalmurzaev in a “golden score” takedown in the semi-finals.
But he did not let that seep into his preparations for the bronze medal fight against Italy’s Matteo Marconcini.
“The regret after the fight for the final was there a little bit of course,” he said. “I was there for the gold, that was the main goal for us.
“But I’m very glad that it didn’t influence or affect my motivation to win the bronze.
“So there is some regret but it’s more for a good future, it motivates me to work harder for achieving the gold.”
That kind of single-minded focus has been evident in his reaction to the medal. The extensive nature of his preparations over the last three years — since he started representing the UAE after previously representing Moldova, the country of his birth — with the federation meant that a medal was very much the expectation.
In that sense, the medal has not been the overwhelming, life-changing event it often is for Olympians.
“When I won the medal, I was really prepared for it, I had done a lot to get it. I understood what I had done when I got the medal.
“Before when I won the bronze at the World Championships [in Paris in 2011], it was a little unexpected then and when I slept that night, I got up just to check that it wasn’t a dream that I had won a medal. This time it wasn’t like that. I knew I had won and I was ready for it in my mind, even if it was gold.”
The first person he spoke to after the win is one of the most important in his story, Naser Al Tamimi, the general secretary of the UAE Wrestling, Judo and Kick Boxing Federation.
Al Tamimi feels this medal could be the start of big things for the local judo scene.
“I think it will make a big difference,” he said. “Already the impact is there since he won the medal. People are talking about his medal, about judo more.
“So this medal will be helping and promoting judo among the younger generation. It’s a big achievement, an Olympic medal.
“The guys already involved in judo, for them it will be a big motivation. And I’m sure this will increase by 30-40 per cent the participation in judo around the UAE.”
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
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Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Power: 480kW
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Spec%20sheet
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Three ways to get a gratitude glow
By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.
- During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
- As you finish your skincare routine, look yourself in the eye and speak an affirmation, such as: “I am grateful for every part of me, including my ability to take care of my skin.”
- In the evening, take some deep breaths, notice how your skin feels, and listen for what your skin is grateful for.
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
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