UAE athletes set to create history

Dubai: Two UAE's athletes are set to make history by becoming the first sportsmen from this country to qualify for an international athletics championships.

Ali Obaid Al Shirooki and Omar Juma Al Sulfar are already in Germany as the UAE's two representatives for the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics Berlin 2009 to be held from August 15-23.

In order to be able to compete at a prestigious competition like the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, the athletes are required to pass stringent qualifications.

The IAAF provides a list of international guidelines for the times, heights and distances required.

And in order to allow participation of athletes from every member association, up to two athletes, including at least one woman, may participate in every discipline regardless of whether or not the qualifying guidelines have been met.

"This is indeed a proud moment for our athletes and for us at the UAE Athletics Federation [UAEAF]," Ahmad Al Kamali, President of the UAEAF told Gulf News as he watched Al Shirooki train one last time at the Dubai Police Officers Club late on Saturday.

The UAE contingent consisting of Al Shirooki, his coach Eisa Attalah, Al Kamali and UAEAF technical adviser Larry Barthlow left for Berlin earlier yesterday.

Al Shirooki qualified after clocking a commendable 49.66 seconds in the 400m hurdles. Sprinter Al Sulfar timed 20.72 seconds in his favourite 200 metres to become the second participant from the UAE at this international competition.

Both times were set during the course of the Gulf Athletics Championships held in Saudi Arabia in May this year.

Al Sulfar and his coach Vasco Anguelov who have been in training and minor competitions in Europe for the past two months, will join the contingent directly in Berlin. "We do not want to put too much pressure on these athletes. They have shown us what they are capable of by clocking such fine times in their events. It is now time to allow them to compete and gain the experience and better these timings," Al Kamali stated.

Organisers are expecting about 2,500 athletes and officials from 213 member associations to attend one of the most important sporting events in the world next week.

"I don't want to promise anything, but just go out there and give it my best shot at improving on the UAE national record," said Al Shirooki.

"It's the experience we are after. It's part of the learning curve for these two athletes. The first step has been to have them qualifying directly for such a competition," added Barthlow.

"We've got his campaign well planned for the moment. He has to ensure he gets through the first two heats and makes it to the semifinals. After that anything can happen," he added.