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Dubai: Last week's success at the Asian Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships have come as a blessing for the hard work put in by the athletes and new association led by its president Osama Al Shafar. Given the five medals that the UAE bodybuilders won at the Tseung Kwan O Sports Centre, the sport seems bound for greater heights in the future here.
The UAE bagged three gold medals through Isaq Ali (over 75kgs juniors), Mohammad Al Zahmi (70kgs) and Mohammad Ali (90kgs) in the senior categories, while Ahmad Eisa Mattar took silver in the under 75kgs and Ayoub Al Ammari bagged bronze in the 55kgs seniors.
"It's been a lot of hard work and sacrifice for the body builders," pointed out UAE coach Ali Abdullah.
"But they believed in themselves and quietly went about their task and that is how they were rewarded," he added.
Al Shafar is thrilled at the prospects that lie ahead due to this sudden but of success. "We've made a statement with this medal haul. Never in the history of any sport has something like this happened in the UAE. So naturally, everyone is excited about what has happened last week."
He is also excited about the revolution this performance will likely bring. "I've been receiving so many calls congratulating me and the team that I feel confident this sport is headed in the right direction," Al Shafar said.
New talent
And being the president of the UAE Body Building Association, he already has a plan in place to tap and attract new talent.
"Our work is even easier now. We have a pool of 20 athletes who are being prepared to represent the country at various regional and international competitions. We will identify and add a few more junior body builders to this pool in the near future," Al Shafar promised.
However, he does not want to see the same faces representing the country. "I am personally not in favour of more than three major competitions for each body builder in one season," Al Shafar claimed.
Visiting schools
Coach Ali Abdullah, a former national squad member, voiced a useful suggestion to identify and promote fresh talent. "We will visit schools and clubs and see how we can attract more juniors into our fold," he suggested.
However, he also knows that this is not going to be an easy assignment. "Football is by far the most popular sport here and hence our task becomes even harder."
But there is a lot of hope as most of the current crop of body builders are in their mid-20s and another two are in their late teens. "I feel this is just the beginning of a new chapter for the sport in the country," the coach said.
"I feel we have a good future ahead for body building, and the future is in the hands of these youngsters and the ones who are yet to come and join these athletes."
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