DUBAI // Rashid Abdul Hamid comes across as a cocky young man, but he can be brutally honest in his assessment of table tennis in the country as well. The senior team finished a disappointing fourth of five in the GCC Championship and Hamid is under no illusion about the daunting task ahead at the Asian Championships, which will be held in Lucknow, India, from November 16 to 22.
"The UAE playing in the Asian Championship is like our football team playing in South America," says the country's top player. "We know Asia will not be easy for us," says Hamid, the UAE No 1 who will be hoping to win the singles title on tomorrow. "We will have the Olympic and world champions. So in reality, the Asian championship can be tougher than the Worlds. "But for us, it is going to be a very good experience. It will be like a camp where we can learn from the world's best, gain experience and try to play at our best."
The UAE are ranked 76th in the world, with the sport being dominated by the Chinese, South Koreans and the Japanese in Asia, and the Germans and Austrians from Europe. To improve their position in the world, primarily among Gulf and Arab nations, the UAE Table Tennis Association have brought in Xiao Daili, the former Portuguese national team coach. "The players need more experience for these kind of tournaments and for the future," said Daili. "I think this tournament is an experience in itself.
"For the future, we have a lot of plans and I will discuss them with the federation. We are thinking long-term, which includes Olympic qualifications and the Arab Championships. We want to have our players in such events and achieve better results." Hamid is impressed by his new coach and predicts a brighter future soon. "When he came here, he knew what is UAE. He had seen the players earlier in a Pro Tour tournament in Al Ain. So he knows our level and he knows what we want and need.
"He is positive. He likes to work and just needs some time to create a better system with the national team. Once that is in place, I think we can do it." As Daili charts the future of the sport, Hamid is also busy planning his own rise up the world rankings. "I hope to be playing abroad next year," he says. "If I keep playing in just the UAE, it is not going to work for me, we are not professionals.
"I want to have a better future. For me, to be a better player and enter the top 100, it will not be easy. My ranking now is 415 or 416 [He dropped from 419 to 428 in the rankings released on Thursday], which is too bad. "So I need to play more Pro Tours, more international tournaments to rise up the rankings. That is the only way. "If I am going to have a good future then I can give more and more for maybe the next 15 years.
arizvi@thenational.ae
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
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Abu Dhabi GP weekend schedule
Friday
First practice, 1pm
Second practice, 5pm
Saturday
Final practice, 2pm
Qualifying, 5pm
Sunday
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps), 5.10pm
Grand Slam Los Angeles results
Men:
56kg – Jorge Nakamura
62kg – Joao Gabriel de Sousa
69kg – Gianni Grippo
77kg – Caio Soares
85kg – Manuel Ribamar
94kg – Gustavo Batista
110kg – Erberth Santos
Women:
49kg – Mayssa Bastos
55kg – Nathalie Ribeiro
62kg – Gabrielle McComb
70kg – Thamara Silva
90kg – Gabrieli Pessanha
Profile Periscope Media
Founder: Smeetha Ghosh, one co-founder (anonymous)
Launch year: 2020
Employees: four – plans to add another 10 by July 2021
Financing stage: $250,000 bootstrap funding, approaching VC firms this year
Investors: Co-founders
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The biog
Age: 32
Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.
Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas
Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska
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Dubai World Cup draw
1. Gunnevera
2. Capezzano
3. North America
4. Audible
5. Seeking The Soul
6. Pavel
7. Gronkowski
8. Axelrod
9. New Trails
10. Yoshida
11. K T Brave
12. Thunder Snow
13. Dolkong
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Long Shot
Director: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Charlize Theron, Seth Rogan
Four stars
SPECS
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if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
MATCH INFO
Tottenham 4 (Alli 51', Kane 50', 77'. Aurier 73')
Olympiakos 2 (El-Arabi 06', Semedo')
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets