Maria Sharapova has recalled being overwhelmed at the London Olympics as she looked forward to an attempt to claim gold for Russia at this year’s Games in Rio.
The Russian picked up the women’s singles silver medal four years ago, thrashed by arch-rival Serena Williams in the final, but it was the experience of mingling with fellow athletes that left a lasting impression.
“I think going into it, of course, you always think of the highest prize and the best prize you can get at an event,” she said of the Olympics after making the third round of the Australian Open.
“But the experience of being an Olympian is so fulfilling.”
Australian Open Day 3 updates: Federer, Williams and Sharapova cruise through
Sharapova, 28, born in Siberia but based in Florida since she was young, said she was “so overwhelmed just by the experience of being around other athletes and just really respected”.
“Getting a chance to go into the Olympic Village before the opening ceremonies and spending a few hours there and seeing all the different athletes,” she said.
“Some were actually working out in the garden; some boxers were shadow boxing. It was just really special to see, and you felt a unity.
“You felt these tremendous athletes maybe had never met or seen each other in person before, but we all really respected each other and really understood each other and what we go through as an athlete and the sacrifices and the hard work and the competition.
The Rio Olympics run from August 5-21.
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if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
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Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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