Maha Al Hanaei has returned home with a medal in every jiu-jitsu competition she has participated in since taking up the sport when it was first introduced more than four-and-a-half years at the Mariam bint Sultan Girls School in Al Ain.
She was selected for the UAE national junior team on their inaugural tour to the United States and won a silver medal at the American Kids National Championships in October 2014.
Al Hanaei, 16, is a Grade 11 pupil and a blue belt, the highest rank in her age group, and competes in the 56.5-kilogramme weight class.
Polyana Lago Barbosa, her Brazilian coach for more than two-and-a-half years, said: “The success she has had is because of her discipline. She is very committed, attentive and respectful. She never misses her training. We have some good girls but in my opinion Maha can develop into one of the champions in the UAE.”
Al Hanaei represents Al Ain Club in competitions, trains with the national team juniors and came through her qualifying round event in Al Ain three weeks ago to earn a ticket to the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation Challenge Cup for girls on Friday at the Ipic Arena.
Q: You attended ballet classes. How and when did you start jiu-jitsu?
A: It was a casual visit to the jiu-jitsu classes when the sport was first introduced in the school curriculum through the Abu Dhabi School Programme around four-and-a-half years ago. I wanted to try out at the first instance, and fell then got hooked.
How supportive are your parents?
The whole family have been very supportive from the time I began and up to now. My sisters Mahra [age 16 and green belt] and Hana [12, grey belt] have both taken up jiu-jitsu and are doing well.
What success you have had so far?
I reached the medal rounds in every competition that I took part. Perhaps, more than 20. I think that’s some achievement.
How much time do you spend training?
Four days a week on a normal routine but that can increase when preparing for a competition.
What is the biggest achievement so far?
Winning the gold medal in the blue-belt category in the Abu Dhabi World Kids Championships last year. I was runner-up in the orange belt in the previous year.
Do you have a sporting hero or role model?
No sporting heroes but a role model, yes, my coach Polyana.
Any short-term and long-term targets?
The immediate task is to retain my title at the Abu Dhabi World Kids Championships. Long term, I want to be a member of the senior national team, achieve black-belt status and travel around the world to compete in the international circuit.
What about your academics?
I am doing science subjects but haven't really thought what I'm going to do once I complete schooling. As of now, I am enjoying my time in school and jiu-jitsu. sports@thenational.ae
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Abu Dhabi card
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 2,400m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 2,200m
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
The National selections:
5pm: Valcartier
5.30pm: AF Taraha
6pm: Dhafra
6.30pm: Maqam
7pm: AF Mekhbat
7.30pm: Ezz Al Rawasi
PSG's line up
GK: Alphonse Areola (youth academy)
Defence - RB: Dani Alves (free transfer); CB: Marquinhos (€31.4 million); CB: Thiago Silva (€42m); LB: Layvin Kurzawa (€23m)
Midfield - Angel di Maria (€47m); Adrien Rabiot (youth academy); Marco Verratti (€12m)
Forwards - Neymar (€222m); Edinson Cavani (€63m); Kylian Mbappe (initial: loan; to buy: €180m)
Total cost: €440.4m (€620.4m if Mbappe makes permanent move)
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Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
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The Laughing Apple
Yusuf/Cat Stevens
(Verve Decca Crossover)
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The five stages of early child’s play
From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:
1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.
2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.
3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.
4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.
5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.
