Warm welcome for UAE heroes
UAE's Asiad champions get heroes' welcome led by Shaikh Mohammad
Dubai: The UAE's Asian Games medal winners returned to a rousing heroe's welcome at the Dubai International Airport yesterday afternoon.
Endurance team gold medal winners Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Shaikh Mayed Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Shaikha Maitha Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sultan Bin Sulayem were received by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, along with a host of other shaikhs and officials.
The UAE won the team gold in endurance led by individual winner Shaikh Rashid and bronze medallist Bin Sulayem.
Shaikha Maitha became the first Arab woman to win a medal at the Asian Games when she took silver in the Karate over 65kgs competition.
The royal wing of Dubai Airport wore a festive look as sportspersons and officials thronged to accord a fitting welcome to the athletes.
"This is history being written as this is the first time that one family has won so many medals at an international competition," said Ebrahim Abdul Malek, the secretary general of the UAE National Olympic Committee (NOC).
Growing in confidence
"This is a huge boost for sports in the country and I hope we can grow in confidence as we target other international competitions in the future," he added.
As the private plane landed a little past 1.30pm, children from the various clubs in Dubai broke into a thunderous applause to the beating of drums and song.
"This is the right way to welcome the heroes of our country," stated Dr Omar Abdul Aziz Al Hai from the UAE NOC.
The entourage then headed indoors on a red carpet where Shaikh Mohammad spent time chatting with the medal winners and well-wishers.
As the contingent headed up the stairs to be met by Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and CEO of the Emirates Group, and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs.
