Dubai: The UAE’s Lamia Tariq Malallah Al Farsi claimed her second most important international medal when she won silver in the Senior A category at the Winter Cup Rhythmic Gymnastics held in Leverkusen, Germany on December 1-2.
The six-year-old went through her routine with a score of 8.75 out of 10 to finish behind Elene Bakradze of Georgia, while Anna Keller of Germany was placed third.
“I wanted the gold medal especially because it is the UAE National Day, and I would have presented the medal to Shaikh Mohammad [Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai] who has always inspired me to go for the top spot,” Lamia told Gulf News from Leverkusen.
“I tried my best and gave it everything. But my best was not good enough for a gold medal this time. This means I have to work even harder in the future,” she added after finishing second best in a much senior age category.
The young UAE girl, whose father Tariq and mother Malak assure her all the support, had battled a painful knee injury and a bout of vomiting to pick up her first major gold medal in the Senior B Category at the 2017 Open GR Azur International Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament in Nice, France, earlier this summer.
She had made her debut with a gold at the inaugural Dubai International Junior Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships held in Dubai in December last year. “This one is special as well, but it is the gold that I am missing,” Lamia said.
“I am prepared to work from now on so that I can always be at the top of the podium,” she added.
More than 300 gymnasts representing 17 countries participated in the Winter Cup Rhythmic Gymnastics in Leverkusen. 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic gold medallist Margarita Mamun was the chief guest and presented the medals.
