UAE Para Dressage programme puts two riders in the saddle for LA2028
26 June 2025 22:37
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Royal Stables in Abu Dhabi has achieved a significant milestone in its Para Dressage Performance Programme, launched earlier this year to develop a UAE national team for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games. Since April, several Emirati athletes have joined the pioneering training pathway, and now, two of them have completed their FEI classifications, putting them firmly on the road to LA 2028.Fatima Al Bluoshi and Wafaa Aldahmani, both 31 years old and from Ras Al Khaimah, have been undergoing intensive weekly training at The Royal Stables since enrolling in April, alongside their fellow athletes. Their regimen includes riding lessons, theory sessions, simulator training, physiotherapy, and sports psychology. The programme is built on a holistic approach designed to nurture both technical knowledge, athlete fitness and mental resilience.Alongside the training modules, the athletes are supported by experts in sports physiotherapy, psychology, and nutrition to enhance performance and optimise well-being.In June, Fatima and Wafaa travelled to Wellington Riding in the United Kingdom, where they undertook their official FEI Para Dressage classification assessments. Fatima, who has lived with spina bifida affecting her lower limbs since birth, wasclassified as Grade III, while Wafaa, who experienced lower limb paralysis following contracting Polio as an infant, was classified as Grade II.Their time in the UK also included daily training, attending the Concours Para- Équestre de Dressage International, and connecting with members of TeamGB's multi-gold medal-winning Paralympians. The trip provided invaluable opportunities for technical development and international exposure.Dr. Russell MacKechnie-Guire, Technical Lead for the UAE Para Dressage Performance Programme, accompanied the athletes on the trip. An internationally recognised expert in equine biomechanics and performance analysis, Dr. MacKechnie-Guire said, "This was a defining moment for the athletes and the programme. The FEI classification is essential for any para dressage rider aspiring to compete internationally, and to see Fatima and Wafaa approach this with such professionalism and determination was exceptional.""The experience of training daily, watching elite competition, and engaging with Team GB's riders gave them, and us, a clear picture of the standards we are working towards. It is the start of an exciting journey, and both athletes have shown they belong on this path."The Para Dressage Performance Programme remains open to aspiring Emirati athletes of determination and continues its talent identification and development efforts, with several other athletes already participating in training sessions at The Royal Stables.
Laura Richardson, Performance Manager, said, "Fatima and Wafaa's progress is inspiring, not just for the equestrian community but for the UAE as a whole. This programme was created to break barriers, and in just two short months together, we have already achieved the first key milestone on our exciting journey to LA 2028."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sharjah 24
an hour ago
- Sharjah 24
191 players compete in FAST Int'l Chess Championship
Opening Ceremony Attended The opening ceremony on the first board was attended by Abdullah Murad Al Mazmi, a board member of the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club, alongside Eng. Fathi Jabr Afana, CEO of FAST Building Contracting, and other distinguished guests. Continued Community Commitment Eng. Fathi Afana expressed his pleasure at being present, highlighting FAST Group's ongoing dedication to supporting sports and community chess initiatives as part of its social responsibility. He emphasised that chess, as a strategic mental sport, plays a vital role in character building, saying, "We are proud to support this championship and strive to help the UAE strengthen its position on the global sports stage." Partnership Strength Highlighted He expressed his gratitude to Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club, for the successful collaboration. He added, "The partnership between FAST Group and the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club showcases the strong synergy between the private sector and government institutions. It aligns with the leadership's vision to support sports organisations and encourage all forms of sports across the UAE. This continued partnership has expanded to include tournaments carrying our group's name, as well as backing major international events organised by the club." Record Participation Celebrated Abdullah Murad Al Mazmi, board member of the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club, stated, "This championship has seen record-breaking participation and stands out as a key event on the club's calendar. It offers many technical, organisational, and administrative advantages. Our main objective is to organise tournaments that enhance the skills of Emirati players, provide them with valuable experience, and boost their international rankings, ultimately supporting the growth of our national teams."
Al Etihad
4 hours ago
- Al Etihad
UAE Balloon ascends in Russian skies
28 June 2025 13:58 MOSCOW (WAM)The UAE Balloon Team is participating in the third edition of the International Ballooning Festival "Air Brotherhood", which kicked off in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod and continues until July festival sees broad international participation, including teams from Bulgaria, Slovakia, Belarus, and Armenia, alongside several Russian Pilot Abdulaziz Nasser Al Mansoori, head of the UAE Balloon Team, told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that the team's participation goes beyond the sporting aspect: 'It represents a mission to introduce Emirati culture and highlight the deep-rooted relations between the two friendly countries.'He noted that the team presented free aerial shows in the presence of Russian officials and Mansoori praised the attention given to their participation by the Russian leadership, commending the wide public interaction from the Russian people with the events and nightly shows presented by the team throughout the festival. He explained that this participation in Russia is part of the team's second international tour, which began in Bristol, UK, with the aim of spreading ancient Arab and Islamic culture in various countries worldwide.
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi shows it has formula for success at premiere of F1 movie at Yas Marina Circuit
26 June 2025 22:52 KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI)The red carpet was rolled out at Yas Marina Circuit on Wednesday night, not for a Grand Prix, but for the much-anticipated premiere of F1, the motorsports blockbuster starring Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt and directed by Top Gun Maverick filmmaker Joseph premiere, ahead of the international release of the movie on June 26, marked a full-circle moment for the UAE capital, where large portions of the movie were shot over 26 days in late 2024, with filming taking place in and around Yas Marina Circuit during the Formula 1 season. The project represents a new milestone in Abu Dhabi's growing reputation as a global hub for Hollywood movie shoots. Speaking to Aletihad at the premiere, Mohamed Dobay, Acting Director General of the Creative Media Authority (CMA), expressed pride in Abu Dhabi's starring role in the production. 'We are proud to have the F1 movie premiere in Abu Dhabi after a huge experience and success during the production,' he said.'It's remarkable. The film stars a blockbuster name like Brad Pitt and is directed by Joseph Kosinski, and it showcases the strength of Abu Dhabi's creative industry on a global scale.'The film follows Pitt's character, Sonny Hayes, a former driver dragged back into the fast-paced world of Formula 1 to mentor young racing ace Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris, blending dramatic storytelling with authentic, high-speed racing sequences shot during real races. That realism was made possible thanks to close coordination between film crews, Formula 1 organisers, and Abu Dhabi officials - a feat that earned praise from industry professionals. 'This only confirms the work we've put in over the years to develop the infrastructure to attract productions like F1,' Sameer Al Jaberi, Head of the Abu Dhabi Film Commission, told Aletihad on red carpet. 'We started communicating with the studio three years ago. We worked closely to determine what could be filmed in Abu Dhabi, which locations worked, and what support we could offer, from budget planning to talent and crew.'Abu Dhabi's ability to facilitate filming during a live Formula 1 race was hailed as a landmark accomplishment in global film production. A video screened at the premiere also highlighted Abu Dhabi's hospitality, as a filming destination.'Filming at Yas Marina Circuit, during an actual race, and coordinating the film shoot and the live event without disruption, that by itself is a great achievement,' Al Jaberi added. 'It was brilliantly orchestrated and went very smoothly.'The Yas Marina Circuit, which hosts the final race destination of the F1 season, provided a visually stunning backdrop for the film's climactic scenes. Audiences at the premiere were treated to a screening that combined the roar of engines with sweeping aerial shots and emotionally charged performances, blending Hollywood spectacle with real-world racing hope is that the F1 movie could propel more high-profile productions to Abu Dhabi. The emirate's competitive rebate programme, state-of-the-art facilities, experienced crews, and stunning locations have already drawn filmmakers from around the notable movies filmed in the capital include 'Mission: Impossible – Fallout', '6 Underground', and 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens.'As the lights dimmed and the opening credits rolled at Yas Marina Circuit, it was clear the event was more than a film premiere, it was a celebration of how far Abu Dhabi has come as a cinematic destination. With Brad Pitt's star power and Kosinski's directorial vision drawing global attention, the city's investment in the creative economy looks to be paying off.
