Latest news with #TalalAlHashemi
The National
4 days ago
- Sport
- The National
UAE Special Olympics athletes take a shot at region's first Topgolf event to make sports more inclusive
More than 70 Special Olympic athletes in the UAE played with confidence as they competed in the region's first Topgolf tournament for people with development and intellectual disabilities. The athletes took part in the Special Olympics Topgolf Invitational Tournament in Dubai on Saturday after two months of training with coaches and trainers as part of an effort to make all sports more inclusive. The athletes took on other Special Olympics athletes at Topgolf venues in the US and the UK in a one-day competition. It was a day of excitement for the 72 athletes, all beginners in a sport that is not easily accessible to people with special needs. Emirati national Salma Al Salami, 21, described it as a 'great' feeling. 'I have been practising regularly and improving, now I really understand the game,' she said. 'In the beginning, I didn't know how to play but now I can.' The training helped her learn to control her swing and guide the ball to the target. 'It made me happy and I'm proud to represent the UAE,' said Ms Salami, who also runs, plays table tennis and represented the UAE in snowshoeing at the Special Olympics World Games in Turin in March. New chapter for UAE Talal Al Hashemi, national director of Special Olympics UAE, said the tournament strengthened the confidence of athletes and opened the door to further opportunities. "This tournament represents a new chapter in international empowerment for our athletes,' he said. 'Our athletes made us proud and carried the UAE flag with pride. The UAE remains committed to promoting the full inclusion of people of determination, especially those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, through meaningful opportunities in sport and beyond.' More than 90 UAE Special Olympics athletes including Emirati citizens and various nationalities who live in the UAE were part of the national training programme that began in May. They learnt the basics from gripping a club, taking a swing, playing strokes and were supported with training and coaching twice a week at Topgolf Dubai. Indian athlete Dinal Ekanayake, 19, said he enjoyed the energy of the sport. 'It was amazing, I loved every moment. There's a lot of great athletes here,' said Mr Ekanayake who also enjoys riding, tennis, cycling, swimming and basketball. 'I feel very happy here. I learnt how to swing from my coach.' Making golf accessible Watching the Special Olympics athletes play with fluidity and interact with others was heartening for Amr Badawi, head of sports and training for Special Olympics UAE. 'Usually it's hard to introduce golf to our Special Olympics athletes because of the nature of this sport and vast golf grounds,' he said. 'In Special Olympics UAE we have a limited number of maybe five athletes in golf. Now after impactful training we have 70 athletes and that's great.' Unlike traditional golf, Topgolf is played throughout the year. Microchips in the golf balls track the distance and accuracy of athletes who are required to hit targets scattered over multiple floors. 'With these vertical playgrounds, you can have 36 players on each floor so we had about 100 athletes playing in the same place for one hour. This was huge access for our athletes,' Mr Badawi said. 'They got technical support that gave them fundamental skills. But there is the other side of the story, which is building relationships, friendships and feeling part of the community. It was amazing to see their smiles and interaction with the Topgolf team and the golf academy members as friends.' Mike Walton, general manager of Topgolf Dubai, said they were proud to host a first-of-its-kind virtual event in partnership with Special Olympics International. 'The dedication and progress shown by the athletes over the past eight weeks was truly inspiring. We believe this initiative reinforces the inclusive potential of golf and our shared commitment to making the sport accessible to all,' he said.
Al Etihad
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Al Etihad
HYROX attracts over 3,500 athletes from 124 nationalities in Abu Dhabi
21 July 2025 14:13 ABU DHABI (WAM) The Abu Dhabi Sports Council, in collaboration with HYROX and ADNEC Abu Dhabi, hosted HYROX, the world's largest indoor fitness race and the leading fitness event in the Middle event, held on Sunday, brought together 3,506 athletes from across the globe, including 213 professional represented 41 percent of the participants, with the 30-35 age group being the most from 124 nationalities took part, including 340 Emiratis. The United Kingdom led the participant demographics with 24 percent, followed by the UAE with 9 percent, and both Ireland and the Philippines with 5.25 percent race consisted of eight 1km running rounds, interspersed with eight functional fitness workouts, forming a complete challenge that tested both strength and was open across several categories: Individual (Men and Women), Doubles (Men, Women, Mixed), Doubles Pro, Individual Pro, Relay Teams (4 persons), and a dedicated category for People of event kicked off with the men's category at 7:00 am, followed by the remaining categories throughout the day, concluding with the men's relay at 9:00 ceremonies began at 12:45 pm after the first race and continued until 10:45 pm after the final event. The race witnessed an impressive public turnout of over 12,000 spectators throughout the Director of the Events Sector at Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Talal Al Hashemi, stated, "Hosting HYROX in Abu Dhabi underscores our ongoing commitment to promoting sports and a healthy lifestyle by attracting world-class events that blend challenge and excitement while being inclusive of all community segments. This aligns with the national initiative 'Year of the Community,' which reflects our leadership's vision of building a cohesive and thriving society."In turn, Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of ADNEC Group, said, 'Our collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and HYROX reaffirms our commitment to attracting leading global events that promote the principles of a balanced and healthy lifestyle for all members of the community."HYROX is one of the fastest-growing fitness racing events globally and has become a key fixture in Abu Dhabi's sports calendar. It blends running with functional fitness in a standardised format designed to accommodate all fitness levels.
Al Etihad
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Al Etihad
ADNOC Sports Tournament 2025 concludes with strong participation
17 July 2025 14:02 ABU DHABI (WAM) The ADNOC Sports Tournament 2025, organised by ADNOC in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) and ADNEC, concluded on Wednesday after three weeks of under the theme 'Energy for Wellbeing,' the tournament brought together more than 2,000 ADNOC employees, their families, and year's edition took place across several venues, including Abu Dhabi Summer Sports at ADNEC, Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, and Al Forsan International Sports event featured more than 10 - team and individual - sports, including football, basketball, volleyball, handball, jiu jitsu, chess, padel, women's volleyball, and shooting, with age-specific competitions to encourage broader tournament also integrated traditional Emirati sports, including camel racing, falconry, and Al-Mutarah, reinforcing ADNOC's commitment to fostering national identity and pride in the UAE's cultural tournament was attended by Sheikh Zayed bin Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Hamdan bin Saeed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan; Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO; Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs; Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNEC Group; Talal Al Hashemi, Executive Director of the Events Sector at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, alongside senior ADNOC executives and former UAE National Football this occasion, Talal Al Hashemi said, 'We are proud of our partnership with ADNOC in organising a unique sporting championship that contributes to promoting the values of health, fitness, and social cohesion, in line with the objectives of the UAE's Year of Community." ADNOC Sports Tournament was established in 1994 to support ADNOC's efforts in harnessing the power of sports to unite communities, enhance wellbeing, and inspire national pride.
Gulf Today
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Countdown begins as logo unveiled for Al Ain Masters 2025
The official logo for the Al Ain Masters 2025 was unveiled on Sunday, marking 100 days to go until the start of the UAE's premier badminton event — the only BWF Tour event in the region. The logo, a rich blend of purple and gold, reflects both Al Ain's proud heritage and its future. It shows a badminton shuttlecock alongside Al Ain's iconic fort and mountains – a perfect mix of sport and culture. The Al Ain Masters 2025, a BWF World Tour Super 100 tournament, will be held from September 30 to October 5, 2025 at the Al Ain Club in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Organised by the UAE Badminton Federation with the support of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the event will host 250 shuttlers from 55 countries aiming for valuable world ranking points in the lead-up to the LA 2028 Olympics. This is the first time the oasis city of Al Ain will host a BWF event of this calibre and the city's rich cultural and natural landmarks — from its majestic oases to the iconic Jebel Hafeet — promises an unforgettable experience for players, fans, and visitors alongside the high-intensity action on the court. Speaking at the unveiling, Noura Aljasmi, UAE Badminton Federation President, said: 'We are proud to bring the only BWF Tour event in the region to Al Ain. The Al Ain Masters is more than just a world-class competition — it's a powerful platform to promote badminton in the UAE, inspire the next generation of players, and put our country on the international badminton map. The unveiling of the logo signals the start of this exciting journey, and we can't wait to showcase Al Ain to the world.' Talal Al Hashemi, Executive Director of the Events Sector at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council said: 'The Al Ain Masters underscores Abu Dhabi's growing role as a destination for international sport and highlights our strong commitment to developing badminton in the UAE. We are proud to support this milestone event and look forward to seeing its lasting impact on the future of badminton in the UAE.' Over the years, UAE badminton players have raised the nation's profile on the world stage, firmly placing the UAE on the world badminton map. In a recent groundbreaking milestone, Taabia Omar and Mysha Omar have made history by becoming the first-ever players to represent the UAE at the 2025 BWF World Championships in Paris. This marks a proud moment for the country and a big step for badminton in the region. At the upcoming Al Ain Masters 2025, the only BWF Tour event in the Middle East, the local stars will be aiming to shine in front of their fans. With the countdown underway, excitement is building as the city prepares to host this world-class event. To further grow and popularise the sport, a series of community and school events will also be held in Abu Dhabi in the lead-up to the Al Ain Masters 2025. These initiatives are designed to cultivate a strong badminton culture across the UAE and support the development of future talent.
Hans India
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
Logo unveiled on 100-day milestone for Al Ain Masters 2025
The official logo for the Al Ain Masters 2025 was unveiled on Sunday, marking 100 days to go until the start of the UAE's premier badminton event - the only BWF Tour event in the region. The logo, a blend of purple and gold, reflects both Al Ain's proud heritage and its future. It shows a badminton shuttlecock alongside Al Ain's iconic fort and mountains – a perfect mix of sport and culture. The Al Ain Masters 2025, a BWF World Tour Super 100 tournament, will be held from September 30 to October 5 at the Al Ain Club in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Organised by the UAE Badminton Federation with the support of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the event will host 250 shuttlers from 55 countries aiming for valuable world ranking points in the lead-up to the LA 2028 Olympics. This is the first time the oasis city of Al Ain will host a BWF event of this calibre and the city's rich cultural and natural landmarks — from its majestic oases to the iconic Jebel Hafeet — promises an unforgettable experience for players, fans, and visitors alongside the high-intensity action on the court. Speaking at the unveiling, UAE Badminton Federation President Noura Aljasmi said, "We are proud to bring the only BWF Tour event in the region to Al Ain. The Al Ain Masters is more than just a world-class competition — it's a powerful platform to promote badminton in the UAE, inspire the next generation of players, and put our country on the international badminton map. The unveiling of the logo signals the start of this exciting journey, and we can't wait to showcase Al Ain to the world.' Talal Al Hashemi, Executive Director of the Events Sector at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council said: 'The Al Ain Masters underscores Abu Dhabi's growing role as a destination for international sport and highlights our strong commitment to developing badminton in the UAE. We are proud to support this milestone event and look forward to seeing its lasting impact on the future of badminton in the UAE.' Over the years, UAE badminton players have raised the nation's profile on the world stage, firmly placing the UAE on the world badminton map. In a recent groundbreaking milestone, Taabia Omar and Mysha Omar have made history by becoming the first-ever players to represent the UAE at the 2025 BWF World Championships in Paris. This marks a proud moment for the country and a big step for badminton in the region. At the upcoming Al Ain Masters 2025, the only BWF Tour event in the Middle East, the local stars will be aiming to shine in front of their fans.
