Mohammad visits Games

Doha: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, arrived yesterday in Doha by sea to follow the 15th Asian Games, now in their final stages.

Shaikh Mohammad, accompanied by his sons, Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Executive Council and the head of Dubai Sports Council, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited the Aspire Sports Academy where Shaikh Mohammad toured the premises and viewed its activities.

Shaikh Mohammad expressed his admiration of the academy.

He then moved to the Khalifa International Stadium and met the UAE athletes taking part in the Games.

Shaikh Mohammad commended the organisation and the efforts of the high committee behind staging an event of this magnitude.

Shaikh Mohammad encouraged both the UAE men and women athletes and advised them to show high morals and ethics in conduct and spirit and to compete with integrity and competence.

Maitha's wins

Earlier, Shaikh Mohammad also attended the ladies karate competition, in which Shaikha Maitha Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum competed in two rounds and qualified for the final. She can land the gold medal if she wins against her Uzbekistan rival Sophia Aspanitova.

Shaikh Mohammad congratulated his daughter for her victory and considered it an achievement for the UAE ladies in all spheres of life.

The UAE champion Shaikha Maitha embraced her brothers, who also congratulated her for the victory.