Keita Nakajima with the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship trophy.
Keita Nakajima with the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship trophy.
Keita Nakajima with the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship trophy.
Keita Nakajima with the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship trophy.

Keita Nakajima wins thrilling play-off to take Asia-Pacific title in Dubai


Amith Passela
  • English
  • Arabic

Keita Nakajima clinched the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in a thriller over Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho on the second play-off hole at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club on Saturday.

The No 1 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking shot a three-under-par 68 in the final round to match Kho, who carded a 64 in the third round and 65 in the next to finish on 14 under par.

The pair headed back to the 18th hole and at the second time of asking Kho found water with his second from a fairway bunker. Nakajima hit a superb drive, followed by a second to 20 feet and rolled it in to seal the victory with a birdie and become the third golfer from Japan to win the title.

The UAE’s sole representative in the last two rounds, Ahmad Skaik, could hold his head high after carding a level-par 71 on the final day.

The Emirati got off to a flyer, carding three birdies and a bogey in his opening four holes.

He hit back from a dropped shot on eight with another birdie on 10, but didn’t get the rub on the green with successive bogeys on 16 and 17, and settled for a four-over total of 288 and 42nd place, a more than respectable result after two months out with a number of injuries.

“I felt very good out there today, hitting good iron shots and making good putts,” he said.

“I’m pretty happy with my performance, I took it to the next level and hopefully I can keep it up.

“It is an honour for me to represent the country. I would like to inspire the ones coming up, my younger brother as well, so I hope I have been a decent role model this week.”

On his plans for the future, he added: “I’m planned to finish next semester and then maybe play six months to a year and hopefully turn professional if the time is right.”

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Director: Majid Al Ansari

Rating: 4/5

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Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

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The Case For Trump

By Victor Davis Hanson
 

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Mamo 

 Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua

 Based: Dubai, UAE

 Number of employees: 28

 Sector: Financial services

 Investment: $9.5m

 Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors. 

 
BULKWHIZ PROFILE

Date started: February 2017

Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: E-commerce 

Size: 50 employees

Funding: approximately $6m

Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S23%20ULTRA
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
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The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima


Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650

Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder

Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm

Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km

What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

Jawan
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SRI LANKA SQUAD

Upul Tharanga (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella
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Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
VEZEETA PROFILE

Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

The biog

Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar

Nationality: Emirati

Education: Degree in emergency medical services at Higher Colleges of Technology

Favourite book: Between two hearts- Arabic novels

Favourite music: Mohammed Abdu and modern Arabic songs

Favourite way to spend time off: Family visits and spending time with friends

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Updated: November 07, 2021, 8:03 AM