Moroccan athletes reign supreme in road races at NAS Sports Tournament
By far, the largest sports competition of its kind launched and sponsored by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and held annually during the holy month of Ramadan, Saturday's racing was held at the Meydan Racecourse as one of the NAS Sports Tournament events conducted under the directives of Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, under the slogan 'Limitless Capabilities'.
The road runs were a huge success with more than 4,300 athletes participating in various categories.
The running race night was attended by Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, and Faris Al Mutawa, Secretary General of the UAE National Olympic Committee, who signalled the start of the men's 5km race.
Ali Al Mutawa, Secretary General of the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation, and member of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Sports Council, gave the starting signal for the women's 5km race, while Adel Darwish, member of the UAE Athletics Federation, gave the starting signal for the 4km race.
The races were also attended by Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Assistant Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, Hassan Al Mazrouei, Director of the NAS Sports Tournament and Adel Al Bannai, Chairman of the Technical Committee of the tournament.
Hogging the limelight were a clutch of runners from Morocco with Yasser Al Shashoui leading a clean sweep for the North African nation while winning the men's 10km race in a time of 27.52 minutes, while countrywoman Ruqayya Al Mazrouei won the women's 10km race with a time of 38.36 minutes.
Shashoui was followed by countryman Mohammed Ait Mammas Touda (27.52 mins) and Ismail Al Kharshi (28.02).
In the 10km race for female citizens, Al Mazrouei finished in a time of 38.36 minutes, and was followed by Alia Al Shamsi (40.50 minutes) and Fatima Al Shamsi (42.30 mins).
The 10km race for male citizens also witnessed the presence of Africans on the podium with Abdul Karim Tiki Abdul Rahman winning first place with a time of 28.15 minutes, followed by Obaid Al Nuaimi in second place (30.21 mins), and Abdullah Surour Khamis Jumaa came in third place (30.51 mins).
Morocco further sealed their superiority on the night in the 10km race for the open women's category with Rokia Al Moqim winning top place with a time of 34.37 minutes, followed by another Moroccan Wafaa Zeroual (35.19 mins), while Belgium's Liesbeth Verheyden came in third with a time of 35.45 minutes.
The runners from Morocco further asserted their supremacy in the shorter distance as well with Hamid Al Moalla winning the 5km national men's category in a time of 15.41 minutes, followed by Abdullah Al Hadrami in second place (15.55 mins) and Mahmoud Saleh Al Naqbi in third (16.05).
In the 5km race for the open men's category, Moroccan Amin Souida won first place (14.45 mins), followed by Kenyan Victor Kiprono Korir (15.08 mins), and Uganda's Guido Grace Okadabau in third (15.16 mins).
Hessa Al Jasmi won first place for national women with a time of 23.48 minutes, followed by Hamda Al Ali (24.08 mins) and Fatima Saeed Juma Saeed in third (25.00 mins).
The 5km race for the open women's category was won by Poland's Emilia Mangilinan in a quick time of 22.11 minutes, followed by Morocco's Wiam Al Fathi (22.13 mins) and Russia's Alisa Petrova (22.18 mins).
Frenchman Jean-Claude Haramburi claimed the top spot in the 5km senior citizens and residents race in a time of 16.58 minutes, followed by Moroccan Mubarak Rayhan (18.32 mins), and Emirati Salem Atiq Saeed Al Muhairi (19.36 mins).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
Hamdan launches ‘Dubai Mallathon' to transform shopping malls into fitness hubs
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, on Thursday launched Dubai Mallathon, a community-driven initiative aimed at promoting public health by encouraging all members of society to engage in daily physical activity during the summer. The initiative is set to transform shopping malls across Dubai into organised health and fitness tracks during morning hours, from 7:00 to 10:00am, from Aug.1 to 31. As part of the initiative, dedicated walking and running tracks will be introduced in seven of Dubai's major shopping destinations, including Dubai Mall, Dubai Hills Mall, Springs Souk, City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, Mall of the Emirates, and Dubai Marina Mall. Dubai Mallathon is aligned with the goals of the Year of Community, the Dubai Social Agenda 33, and Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 33, which aim to provide the highest standards of living, residential services, and cultural and sporting events while celebrating the UAE's cultural, architectural and environmental heritage. Sheikh Hamdan said Dubai seeks to set new global benchmarks in wellbeing by making fitness an integral part of daily life. Through meaningful initiatives that bring the community together, the city aims to foster a sense of connection, encourage healthier lifestyles, and create a more vibrant, supportive social life, he added. "With the Dubai Mallathon, we're turning familiar spaces into places that inspire movement, connection, and better habits. "We want everyone in Dubai to feel they can stay active and energised in welcoming spaces built with their needs in mind. This reflects our broader commitment to placing people and families at the heart of our development plans.' He encouraged the public to take part in the Dubai Mallathon, describing it as a simple and accessible way to embrace healthier habits and engage with the community."Every step you take moves us closer towards a healthier Dubai,' he said. "This is a shared journey. We are all partners in transforming our city into the world's best place to live, work, and visit.' Sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and held in collaboration with the Dubai Sports Council, the Dubai Mallathon initiative targets all segments of society, including youth, senior citizens, residents, children, and shopping mall to foster an active lifestyle in a supportive setting, the initiative incorporates motivational tools such as fitness-tracking systems, health awareness stations, dedicated children's areas, and guided stretching exercises. This community-driven experience not only encourages participation but also raises awareness about the importance of a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Dubai Mallathon also seeks to make the most of the vast, underutilised indoor spaces in major malls by transforming them into safe and dynamic sporting environments. This approach offers a practical solution to the challenges of summer heat. With air-conditioned spaces and advanced infrastructure, shopping malls provide an ideal setting for exercise, removing the barrier of extreme heat and encouraging residents to maintain their physical fitness year-round. The initiative also features the 'Walk for Better Health' programme, organised by Dubai's Community Development Authority in collaboration with malls in the emirate. Participation in Dubai Mallathon is free of charge and can be completed by registering through the official website: Upon registration, participants will receive a digital card confirming their enrolment in the initiative. Dubai Mallathon also features collaborations with restaurants and retail outlets, which will offer special deals that align with the initiative's goals of promoting a balanced and active lifestyle, encouraging better nutritional choices and supporting individuals in adopting long-term, sustainable healthy habits. WAM
Gulf Business
2 days ago
- Gulf Business
Dubai launches ‘Mallathon' to turn malls into summer fitness hubs
Image: Majid Al Futtaim Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, has launched Dubai Mallathon, a new community-focused fitness initiative that transforms shopping malls into indoor walking and running tracks during the summer. The month-long programme, which runs daily from 7am to 10am from August 1 to 31, aims to make fitness more accessible to residents by leveraging the climate-controlled environments of Dubai's largest malls. Seven malls will participate, including Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Hills Mall, Deira City Centre, City Centre Mirdif, Dubai Marina Mall, and Springs Souk. 'With the Dubai Mallathon, we're turning familiar spaces into places that inspire movement, connection, and better habits,' Sheikh Hamdan said. 'This is a shared journey. We are all partners in transforming our city into the world's best place to live, work, and visit.' Public health push through Mallathon The initiative forms part of broader government efforts to promote well-being and healthier lifestyles under the Dubai Social Agenda 33 and Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 33. It also aligns with the national 'Year of Community' campaign. Backed by the Ministry of Defence and organised in cooperation with the Dubai Sports Council, the Dubai Mallathon targets all age groups and segments of society, including children, senior citizens, and mall employees. Participation is free, with registration open at Registered participants receive a digital card and gain access to daily fitness activities, including stretching sessions, children's zones, and health-awareness stations. Fitness-tracking tools will also be integrated to encourage consistency. Using existing infrastructure The programme also addresses the challenge of exercising in the extreme summer heat by repurposing underused mall space. Officials say it is a practical, low-barrier solution for maintaining physical activity year-round. 'Dubai seeks to set new global benchmarks in wellbeing by making fitness an integral part of daily life,' Sheikh Hamdan said, adding that the initiative reflects the city's strategy to place people and families at the centre of development plans. Retail collaboration To support lifestyle change beyond exercise, Mallathon will feature collaborations with restaurants and retail outlets that offer health-conscious deals and products to participants, promoting better nutrition and long-term wellness habits. The initiative also includes the 'Walk for Better Health' programme, a joint effort by the Community Development Authority and participating malls, aimed at promoting community participation in physical health. Read:
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Al Etihad
Hamdan bin Mohammed launches ‘Dubai Mallathon'
24 July 2025 18:28 DUBAI (ALETIHAD)His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, launched the Dubai Mallathon on Thursday, a community-driven initiative aimed at promoting public health by encouraging all members of society to engage in daily physical activity during the initiative is set to transform shopping malls across Dubai into organised health and fitness tracks during morning hours, from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m., from August 1 to 31. Hamdan bin Mohammed: Today, we launched the 'Dubai Mallathon' – an initiative that transforms shopping malls across the city into indoor fitness tracks, encouraging the Dubai community to stay active comfortably and safely during morning hours throughout August. Aligned with the… — Aletihad English (@AletihadEn) July 24, 2025 As part of the initiative, dedicated walking and running tracks will be introduced in seven of Dubai's major shopping destinations, including Dubai Mall, Dubai Hills Mall, Springs Souk, City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, Mall of the Emirates, and Dubai Marina Mallathon is aligned with the goals of the Year of Community, the Dubai Social Agenda 33, and Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 33, which aim to provide the highest standards of living, residential services, and cultural and sporting events while celebrating the UAE's cultural, architectural and environmental heritage. Strategic Vision His Highness said Dubai seeks to set new global benchmarks in wellbeing by making fitness an integral part of daily life. Through meaningful initiatives that bring the community together, the city aims to foster a sense of connection, encourage healthier lifestyles, and create a more vibrant, supportive social life, he added.'With the Dubai Mallathon, we're turning familiar spaces into places that inspire movement, connection, and better habits. 'We want everyone in Dubai to feel they can stay active and energised in welcoming spaces built with their needs in mind. This reflects our broader commitment to placing people and families at the heart of our development plans.'His Highness encouraged the public to take part in the Dubai Mallathon, describing it as a simple and accessible way to embrace healthier habits and engage with the community.'Every step you take moves us closer towards a healthier Dubai,' he said. 'This is a shared journey. We are all partners in transforming our city into the world's best place to live, work, and visit.' Target Groups Sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and held in collaboration with the Dubai Sports Council, the Dubai Mallathon initiative targets all segments of society, including youth, senior citizens, residents, children, and shopping mall to foster an active lifestyle in a supportive setting, the initiative incorporates motivational tools such as fitness-tracking systems, health awareness stations, dedicated children's areas, and guided stretching exercises. This community-driven experience not only encourages participation but also raises awareness about the importance of a healthy and sustainable Mallathon also seeks to make the most of the vast, underutilised indoor spaces in major malls by transforming them into safe and dynamic sporting environments. This approach offers a practical solution to the challenges of summer heat. With air-conditioned spaces and advanced infrastructure, shopping malls provide an ideal setting for exercise, removing the barrier of extreme heat and encouraging residents to maintain their physical fitness initiative also features the 'Walk for Better Health' programme, organised by Dubai's Community Development Authority in collaboration with malls in the emirate. Participation in Dubai Mallathon Participation in Dubai Mallathon is free of charge and can be completed by registering through the official website: Upon registration, participants will receive a digital card confirming their enrolment in the initiative. Dubai Mallathon also features collaborations with restaurants and retail outlets, which will offer special deals that align with the initiative's goals of promoting a balanced and active lifestyle, encouraging better nutritional choices and supporting individuals in adopting long-term, sustainable healthy habits.
