Dubai: The president of the UAE Taekwondo and Karate Association (UAE TKF) is hoping their four-member team can find form and return with medals from the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
Marwan Al Mazmi, Sulaiman Al Mulla and Jaber Al Za’abi have been registered for the karate competition, while Hussain Al Mazmi is the lone UAE athlete in the taekwondo events.
“Our athletes are prepared to give their best performances at the Asian Games. We may be facing financial setbacks, but we have ensured our athletes are in their best shape throughout the year,” Nasser Al Razooki, the UAE TKF President, told Gulf News.
The UAE bagged two golds and a silver at the recent GCC Karate Championships and Al Razooki added: “We believe that such high-level competitions are adequate preparation for future championships. Our athletes are always in a state of readiness. We had the squad travelling abroad for tournaments and that has also helped.
“One of the biggest issues we have faced is that of lack of funds, but we have worked our way around this and simply made use of the opportunities to compete and bring glory to the UAE.”
Mohammad Abbas and Abdul Majid Al Zarouni are the two UAE officials who have been chosen to attend. The squad is scheduled to leave Dubai this week, with the Games beginning on September 19.
Marwan Al Mazmi will be the first in action as he participates in the kata individual discipline on October 2, while Al Za’abi and Al Mulla will compete in the minus 84kg and plus-84kg weight categories in kumite on October 4.
Taekwondo competitor Hussain Al Mazmi will be in action at the Ganghwa Dolmens Gymnasium in the minus 58kg category on October 3.
