The first taste of competition at an IJF Grand Slam for a trio of young Emiratis ended in first-round defeats but the experience gained is sure to benefit in their development, according to Khalifa Al Hosani.
Al Hosani, 22, the 21-year-old Ali Al Yamahi and Jasem Al Thunairi, 18, made their debuts in the 11th Abu Dhabi Grand Slam at Zayed Sports City’s Jiu-Jitsu Arena on Friday.
Al Hosani, the most experienced of the trio having won a silver and two bronze medals at the Continental Cup, went down to Oscar Pertelson of Estonia in the 73-kilogram weight.
Al Yamahi and Al Thumairi suffered defeats to Denis Vieru of Moldova in the 66kg and Ukrainian Oleh Veredbya in the 60kg class, respectively, on the opening day of the three-day event.
"It indeed was a great opportunity and a massive learning curve for us," Al Hosani said. "All three of us can take this experience forward. We knew the task of competing at this level and to experience that was another thing."
There were five gold medals on offer on Friday (three for women and two for men) at the year-ending Grand Slam, which has drawn 223 entries from 41 countries.
Assunta Scutto (48kg) of Italy, Amandine Buchard (52kg) and Portuguese Telma Monteiro (57kg) came out top in the women’s division the Tokyo silver medallist Yung Wei Yang (60kg) of Taipei and Vieru snapped up the golds for men.
“My will to win helps me to be strong and win these big events,” said Scutto, 19.
“Gold at the Junior World Championships and here is a good ending to the year. Now I have to rest and prepare for the Italian National Championships.”
Buchard, a silver medallist at the Tokyo Olympics, is already preparing for the 2024 Games in Paris. She overcame Olympic bronze medallist Chelsie Giles in the final to take her head-to-head record over the Briton to 3-0.
“I asked my coaches to let me be here,” Buchard said. “It is my first event after the Olympic Games. I wanted to feel how I would fight and this event is a part of the preparation for the 2022 Paris Grand Slam.
“I enjoyed this competition. I won gold and now my next event is the European Golden League and then Paris.”
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
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Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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