Here’s how Dubai Police women’s team prepared for Dubai Games

Dubai: Lieutenant Latifa Al Salman, team manager of the Dubai Police female team, is brimming with excitement as her seven-member team has qualified for the final of the Dubai Games to be held this Sunday.

“The challenge was pretty tough. It’s getting tougher every year. But thank God, we were mentally and physically prepared for this. We had some special training that helped us deal with pressure, and everything related to that, and now we’re ready for the final,” Latifa told Gulf News at Dubai Festival City.

The women’s team consists of seven players and Latifa. This year marks a unique twist for the Lieutenant, who, despite participating in all previous Games, has taken on the managerial role rather than competing as a player this time.

The sixth edition, the largest to date, has also been the most challenging with intense competition across seven obstacles: the elevator, the unreachable, the grip, the force, ball rush, human ladder and bulldozer. Latifa highlighted the ‘Force’ as one of the most demanding obstacles.

“The Force is particularly challenging because it involves poles that you need to push with your body weight, and there are also poles that you need to walk on. It’s incredibly tough to complete it in just 10 minutes.”

While the competition has grown fiercer, Latifa believes their comprehensive approach to training has been key to success.

“We focus not just on physical training, but also on mental preparation. We do things like solving puzzles and memorising things while working out, as well as learning how to manage stress and handle pressure.”

Asked about their approach to training, Latifa stressed on quality over quantity.

“It’s not about the time of day, it’s about the quality of the training you give your team. We could train one hour a day and perform better than someone who trains five hours a day. It’s all about strategies, teamwork, and leadership.”

In preparation for the Games, the team underwent rigorous physical and mental assessments to determine the most suitable members.

“We started with about 20 girls and then conducted physical tests, as well as mental tests. We evaluated how well each player performs under pressure, how they handle puzzles, and how often they can give their 100 per cent. This process helped us select the seven players who we believe are capable of winning the challenge.”

As the team heads into the final, the mindset is clear: focus on their own strengths and capabilities.

“Just focus on yourself. Do your best, and you’ll be in the top three,” Latifa added.