DUBAI 13 April, 2017: The UAE National Middle-Distance Team participated in the Marrakech International Athletics Championships, taking part in the semi-finals of the Morocco tournament with four competitors, with three in the 1,500 metre race.
The UAE competitors included Khalid Khalil, Saud Al Zaabi and Mohammed Issa, and Ali Jawad in the 400 metre race.
Ahmed Al Kamali, Member of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Athletics Federations, IAAF, and Chairman of the UAE Athletics Federation, stressed that the star of the national team was Khaled Khalil, an Olympics champion in the making. He highlighted the latest outstanding results achieved by the UAE team in the Morocco, most notably Khalid Khalil’s new record time in the 1,500 metre race of 3:58.21 minutes, confirming his qualification for the world championship.
Al Kamali affirmed his confidence in the abilities of the UAE’s competitors and coaching team while praising the excellent results they individually achieved by breaking new records in their age groups. Aside from Khaled Khalil, Saud Al Zaabi also achieved an outstanding new record of 3:52.22 minutes, while Mohammed Issa achieved 3:57.71 minutes, said Wam
Al Kamali added that the national team will complete its Moroccan training camp on 12th May, return to the UAE on the 13th and then head for Baku to participate in the Islamic Solidarity Games. The four competitors will be joined by Nasseeb Salmeen, Omar Jumaa Al Salifa, Fatma Al Husni, Aliaa Mohamed Saeed and Widad Ibrahim, as part of a nine-member delegation. The UAE national team will then head to Barcelona to hold its training camp until 3rd July, followed by a trip to the Indian city of Bhubaneshwar, to take part in the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships.
By Sports Staff