At age 24, Adil Khalid already has a long list of achievements on his sailing CV.
He represented the UAE at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Asian Games and became the first Emirati sailor in the Volvo Ocean Race when he was picked from more than 120 hopefuls to be a member of the crew on the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team.
He is by no means ready to call time on his sailing career. He hopes to participate in the Volvo Ocean Race again in 2014/15 and to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
His immediate task is to skipper the Abu Dhabi Sailing & Yacht Club (ADSYC) team in the Sailing Arabia - The Tour which starts from Manama, Bahrain, tomorrow and concludes at the Mussanah Marina in Muscat, Oman, on February 25.
The race is in its third year and has drawn nine teams, who will sail 760 nautical miles and stop in four countries.
Abu Dhabi is making its debut with a full Emirati crew skippered by Khalid.
"I had the dream when I did the Volvo Ocean Race to have a team of our own and going around the world. Now we have got this opportunity. I think this can be the start I was looking forward to," Khalid said.
He spends much of his free time passing on his experience to promising youngsters at the ADSYC which, he hopes, will one day represent the UAE at the highest level.
And he sees the tour as a perfect platform for Emirati sailors to prove themselves.
"This opportunity would certainly encourage the youth who want to pursue sailing careers," he said. "This is also an opportunity for them to go beyond the national and regional level, like in the Olympics.
This is the start for the crew on-board the Abu Dhabi team and, hopefully, more opportunities will follow. The Volvo Ocean Race is the ultimate dream and, who knows, there may be more than one Emirati sailor in this world race next time, and perhaps, an entire crew in years to come."
The decision to enter a team in Sailing Arabia was made at short notice.
"It all happened so suddenly," Khalid said. "The boat was ordered last December and it arrived last month.
"We started training as soon as we were told that we were taking part in the race. We even did a race from Dubai to Muscat and finished third. We have had very little time to prepare but we are ready."
Khalid is trying not to think about winning the event, but concedes that a podium finish would be a great achievement.
"We represent the country and the club, and a good result would be a good advertisement for the sport," he said.
Khalid and much of his crew - Ahmed Al Qubaisi, Ayub Al Balooshi, Ahmed Al Hammadi, Yousef Al Qubaisi and Ahmed Al Marzooqi - are long-time friends; Yousef bin Lahej, the navigator, was his coach when he was a child.
"He treats me more like a friend than a pupil and we get on well as teammates," Khalid said of Bin Lahej. "Ahmed [Al Qubaisi] and Ayub are my school friends for more than 10 years.
"We have spent a lot of time together and we understand each other like family members. They all want to win and this is the good thing. If we don't win [at least] we have done our best."
The first leg, from Bahrain to Qatar, includes 17 hours of non-stop sailing.
Khalid said it will be a learning experience for his crew. "You can just imagine how tough it is to be competing for that long on a single leg. As the skipper, it is also a new experience for me.
"This is the first time for me and my crew to be competing on a 15-day sailing competition. We want to share the moment, soak in the experience as much as possible.
"We know how to keep ourselves in good spirits like sharing the work, cracking jokes, singing and lot of other ways to keep ourselves busy and entertained.
"They are going to learn something new every two or five hours during this journey, being the first-time experience. There may be strong winds, storms and strong waves.
"They will learn a lot of things about the safety, to come out of difficult situations. And remember, this is not just sailing but it's a race and we have to compete against all odds that come our way.
"Winds can pick up speed and go up to 135 knots per kilometre. I have been in a lot of situations like this in the Volvo Ocean Race with waves of over 40 feet. Sometimes it is so frightening you think of your life."
Khalid is even adept at repairs.
"You need to have all this know-how as a sailor," he said. "I have sailed around the world and when it comes to the smaller boats it is much easier."
On being chosen to be part of the Volvo Ocean Race, he said: "You can say that I was lucky but at the same time I worked very hard to achieve that objective.
"My family supported me, the government, the club, they all contributed to what I have achieved up to now."
Thengumtharayil Padmanabhan, a sailing instructor at ADSYC, has known Khalid for nearly 20 years.
"I have seen him grow in front of my eyes and feel proud of his achievements," said Padmanabhan, who has been working as a sailing instructor in the UAE for nearly 30 years.
"He has the passion, ambition, good work ethic and the discipline to fulfil his goals. He is also very friendly and an obedient person. I am very confident they will return triumphant in the Sailing Arabia race."
Khalid's family has been involved in sailing since the days of his great grandfather.
"I use to join them to go to the sea with my brothers and cousins. We use to compete against each other. That's how it all started for me," he said.
Khalid is the third of four boys and he chose a career in sailing over academics, where his brothers excelled. "My parents were very supportive and they gave me the independence to select my own career. And I must say I was very lucky to make the grade. Now, sailing is everything in my life."
Khalid played a little football when he was younger but says that was just for fun.
His utmost ambition is to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil and to help younger sailors at his club achieve the same objective. "We have a brand new club that is only 18 months old and already there are more than 150 kids from different schools undergoing training.
"I am sure at least 10 per cent from this batch will have the potential to make the grade," he said.
apassela@thenational.ae
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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FA Cup quarter-final draw
The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March
Sheffield United v Arsenal
Newcastle v Manchester City
Norwich v Derby/Manchester United
Leicester City v Chelsea
Company%20profile
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Profile of Foodics
Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani
Based: Riyadh
Sector: Software
Employees: 150
Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing
Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.
KINGDOM%20OF%20THE%20PLANET%20OF%20THE%20APES
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
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Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
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Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Tom Fletcher on 'soft power'
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Fighter profiles
Gabrieli Pessanha (Brazil)
Reigning Abu Dhabi World Pro champion in the 95kg division, virtually unbeatable in her weight class. Known for her pressure game but also dangerous with her back on the mat.
Nathiely de Jesus, 23, (Brazil)
Two-time World Pro champion renowned for her aggressive game. She is tall and most feared by her opponents for both her triangles and arm-bar attacks.
Thamara Ferreira, 24, (Brazil)
Since her brown belt days, Ferreira has been dominating the 70kg, in both the World Pro and the Grand Slams. With a very aggressive game.
Samantha Cook, 32, (Britain)
One of the biggest talents coming out of Europe in recent times. She is known for a highly technical game and bringing her A game to the table as always.
Kendall Reusing, 22, (USA)
Another young gun ready to explode in the big leagues. The Californian resident is a powerhouse in the -95kg division. Her duels with Pessanha have been highlights in the Grand Slams.
Martina Gramenius, 32, (Sweden)
Already a two-time Grand Slam champion in the current season. Gramenius won golds in the 70kg, in both in Moscow and Tokyo, to earn a spot in the inaugural Queen of Mats.
THE 12 BREAKAWAY CLUBS
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
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pakistan Test squad
Azhar Ali (capt), Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Abbas, Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari
Leaderboard
63 - Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA)
64 - Rory McIlroy (NIR)
66 - Jon Rahm (ESP)
67 - Tom Lewis (ENG), Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)
68 - Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)
69 - Justin Rose (ENG), Thomas Detry (BEL), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Danny Willett (ENG), Li Haotong (CHN), Matthias Schwab (AUT)
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Profile of Hala Insurance
Date Started: September 2018
Founders: Walid and Karim Dib
Based: Abu Dhabi
Employees: Nine
Amount raised: $1.2 million
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, AB Accelerator, 500 Startups, private backers
SPECS
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Hidden killer
Sepsis arises when the body tries to fight an infection but damages its own tissue and organs in the process.
The World Health Organisation estimates it affects about 30 million people each year and that about six million die.
Of those about three million are newborns and 1.2 are young children.
Patients with septic shock must often have limbs amputated if clots in their limbs prevent blood flow, causing the limbs to die.
Campaigners say the condition is often diagnosed far too late by medical professionals and that many patients wait too long to seek treatment, confusing the symptoms with flu.
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Top Hundred overseas picks
London Spirit: Kieron Pollard, Riley Meredith
Welsh Fire: Adam Zampa, David Miller, Naseem Shah
Manchester Originals: Andre Russell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sean Abbott
Northern Superchargers: Dwayne Bravo, Wahab Riaz
Oval Invincibles: Sunil Narine, Rilee Rossouw
Trent Rockets: Colin Munro
Birmingham Phoenix: Matthew Wade, Kane Richardson
Southern Brave: Quinton de Kock
The First Monday in May
Director: Andrew Rossi
Starring: Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, John Paul Gaultier, Rihanna
Three stars
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
The%20specs
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