She chose to excel in a field that seemed unfamiliar to everyone at the time

Maha Al Balushi: My ambition is to raise the UAE flag in international tournaments

The Emirati heroine, Maha Al Balushi, was able, with patience and persistence, to achieve great accomplishments.Photo: Ahmed Arditi

Emirati champion Maha Al Balushi has won a large number of medals and titles after participating in local, Arab and international tournaments.

Maha, with much patience and determination, was able to be the UAE champion in Olympic rowing for four consecutive years since 2016, so that this Emirati champion would be the first woman to enter the UAE national team in the continental and international championships, to achieve impressive results, and aspire to the gold of the Gulf Rowing Championship, which will be held on The land of the Emirates next year, and raising the UAE flag in international tournaments

A passion for rowing

About the beginnings and her attachment to the sport of rowing, Maha spoke to "Emirates Today", that she started in 2015, that is, after only two years of practicing the sport and her desire to choose a sports field that encouraged her to enter into a group of close friends who chose to practice the new sport of rowing, which Maha described by saying « I loved excellence and choosing a sports field that seemed unfamiliar to everyone at the time, to the point that all the girls who were with me in this sport withdrew from it while I alone clung to the path, continuing the path of challenges and impulsive with my permanent desire to excel, and challenging the difficulties that my great love for the sea compounded with its endless charm, which In it I find a large spiritual outlet in which I empty all my negative energy. ”

Maha confirmed that she participated in most of the local, Gulf and international tournaments, in which she won many medals and coronations, the most prominent of which was her participation in the Gulf championship in 2016, and winning second place, and the bronze medal in the 11th Arab Rowing Championship in Tunisia in the same year, which Maha adds to her participation Distinguished woman in the semi-final tournament in Korea, and her last participation in the Gulf championship in Kuwait last year, in which she won the bronze medal.

Difficulties and obstacles

Maha's experience was not, of course, easy. Rather, it has many difficulties. She talks about her, pointing out that those close to a difficult and risky sport are only men. However, Al-Balushi was able, through the nominations and victories she achieved, to convince everyone of her correct point of view, stressing that “they are not difficulties. As much as they are fears that quickly dissipated in light of the great support I received first from my family, especially my mother, who always accompanies me in all foreign tournaments, and always invites me to success. I also consider myself lucky with my husband who understands the nature of my passion and always helps me achieve what I aspire to from a standpoint. His involvement in the field of sports and his specialization in the field of bodybuilding ».

Emirati women in rowing

Regarding the presence of women in rowing, Maha said, “We have many distinguished girls in this sport throughout the emirates of the country, and perhaps the most important names that appear on the sports arena today are the UAE rowing champion, Reem Al-Hasani, and other girls who have shown unrelenting determination in confronting Challenges and an honorable model worthy of praise and appreciation ».

Al-Balushi pointed to the value of the official support received by female citizens in the sport of rowing in the country, saying: “I am happy with the support and appreciation we have received and we are still from His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who personally received me in 2016 on the occasion of Nili’s silver medal in the Gulf Championship. For the first rowing, and his generosity and great support had the best effect on my attachment to this sport.

Legitimate ambitions

Maha Al Balushi talks about her future ambitions in the field of Olympic rowing, after many local, Gulf and international participations, in light of her joining under the banner of the Emirates Sailing and Rowing Federation, which aims to develop and spread modern sailing and rowing sport among young people, and support competitors in regional and global races. In addition to the coordination between the maritime clubs in the various emirates of the country, saying, "I hope to achieve the gold medal, and we are preparing from now to participate in the Gulf Rowing Championship that will be held on the land of the Emirates next year."

special thanks

In addition to her practice of Olympic rowing and her keenness to participate in all events and tournaments held inside and outside the country, Emirati athlete Maha Al Balushi talks about her job obligations and her work at the General Administration of Airport Security in Dubai Police, which did not prevent her from continuing the path of sporting successes, thanks to everyone's cooperation With her, the permanent cooperation of her administrative officials with her, and their understanding of her sporting obligations.

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- UAE girls have shown relentless determination in the face of challenges, and an honorable example worthy of praise and appreciation.

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