Ali Darwish, the UAE national team and Al Nasr club cyclist, died in a car accident while training on the Dubai-Al Ain road yesterday. The Al Nasr club stopped all activities on hearing the news of Darwish's death.

"We are very sad to hear of his death. Darwish was one of the best cyclists in the UAE and in the GCC," said Mattar Al Tayer, Al Nasr club general secretary. "The UAE and Al Nasr club have a lost a brave athlete. Darwish was an excellent example of a loyal and self-sacrificing athlete. He will be an idol for the coming generations of cyclists and sportsmen in the Al Nasr club and the UAE.

Darwish died while training for the forthcoming season. This shows how he loved cycling till the last breath of his life." The accident was not Darwish's first. In March 1998 he was seriously injured in Cairo while participating in the Tour de Egypt. Following his recovery after six months he returned to represent his country and Al Nasr.

Ali Darwish,who was 23, was working for the Abu Dhabi Police while studying engineering at the Dubai Higher Technical College. Darwish won several domestic titles in individual, team and President Cup races during the last decade.

In 1994, at 17, he took part in the Tour de Tunisia. He also took part that year in the Tour de Emirates. He won two golds and one silver in the GCC men's cycling tournament in 1995. In that year he won gold and silver medals in the GCC youth tournament.

Ali Darwish was the first UAE cyclist to win a medal in an Asian championship: a bronze at the Asian youth championship in the Philippines in 1995. In 1996 he represented the UAE cycling team in the Atlanta Olympics. He won a gold and two silvers in the GCC men's tournament in Abha, Saudi Arabia in 1996.

Darwish finished seventh in the world cycling championship (Grade B) held in Malaysia in 1997. He won two gold medals in the GCC tournament in 1998. That year he took part in the Asian Games in Bangkok. He won a bronze medal and fourth place in individuals in the Arab cycling meet in Egypt in 1999.

Darwish finished 14th at the Asian cycling championship in Japan 1999. Darwish also participated in the World Military Championship in 1999 in Croatia. He won the silver medal in the Pan Arab Games in Jordan 1999, and came fourth in the individuals.

In the Arab cycling meet in the UAE, he won a bronze. In his last event for the UAE, Darwish finished sixth in the individual trials at the Asian cycling championship in China.