Fakhr Eddin for French Open

UAE karate champion Fakhr Eddin Abdul Majied left yesterday for France to take part in the French Open International Karate Tournament and attend the international training course to be held in Paris from January 24-31.

The French Karate Association organises the tournament annually and about 45 countries take part in it, including karate's "greatest seven" Japan, Italy, Iran, Spain, Britain, Turkey and France.

The UAE champion is sponsored by Al Hawai Tyres. The company announced in a press release yesterday, "Al Hawai always support sport events and teams in the UAE on the basis of our keen concern to support youth and sport events in the country.

"We believe the investment on the youth is the best. We have supported the Al Wahda basketball team of Syria during their participation in the Dubai International Basketball Tournament which ended before two weeks and they finished runner up," said Emad Al Hawai the executive director Al Hawai Group.

He added, "Our support to Fakhr Eddin in his international participation is a national obligation for us as we are a national company and must support our talented players to achieve great results for the UAE."

Al Hawai said the company will support Fakhr Eddin in the international tournaments all over the World. "We will continue supporting Fakhr Eddin this year in his international participations so that he can gain more experience and develop his skills to achieve success for the UAE."

Fakhr Eddin, before he left for France, thanked Al Hawai for their great interest in supporting him as one of the UAE champions.

"I take this opportunity to thank the company for their excellent support." Fakhr Eddin also thanked the UAE karate, judo and taekundo board of directors' chairman Saif Salim Al Shamssi and the borad members for their good efforts to help him in participating in the international tournaments.

"The participation in France is a stage of a long preparation programme towards the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. I will take part in the West Asia Games in Kuwait April 2002. The 17th World Championship in Madrid.

"The Asian Games in Pusan South Korea October 2002. Also I will try to take part in other international tournaments in the coming months to obtain more experience to be ready for the 2004 Olympic Games in which I hope to see the UAE flag flying high while I am standing on the podium to receive a medal," concluded Fakhr Eddin.