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Jan 9 2015
UAE women on a learning curve
The UAE women's squad are keen on moving on in their learning process
of a sport that is still almost brand new among the nationals here.
The UAE squads (men and women) have got the opportunity of their
playing careers by being allowed to take part as the host nation in
this elite group of table tennis players from all the continents.
The UAE women's squad which lost 0-3 to the strong Singapore team in
the first round of the group matches on Table 2, are keen on moving on
in their learning process of a sport that is still almost brand new
among the nationals here, at least among women at the international
level.
Leading the UAE women's team from the front is Majd Al Balooshi with
Noura Al Ma'azmi as the second singles player followed by Shamma Al
Mazrooi and Amira Al Mazrooi in third and fourth slots.
Coached by former Armenian national team player Anita Sargsyan who
spoke to the Khaleej Times soon after the Singapore fixture, the side
is still in its infant stages.
"The standards we are talking about is of another league altogether.
We are not ready yet but having got the golden opportunity to play
against the top ranked players in the world, it is our responsibility
to pick on the positives," Anita said.
"The Sharjah Ladies Club is where we train five times a week and all
the players have been available on a regular basis. Majd and Noura
have been with the national side ever since I took over two years ago.
Shamma and Amira joined the squad quite recently and are making steady
progress.
"The bronze medal at the last Arab Games in the women's doubles (Majd
and Noura) was a great step for us but at a modest level. What we need
is to have the game spread to a wider audience at the school level.
>From there a nursery producing a continuous supply of talent and
players will come out naturally.
"It is not just training camps but the awareness levels at the startup
stage and then to the club platform followed by the international
arena that are required in slow and steady stages at the moment. Then
we have to draw up a plan with a schedule of friendlies and events
where the competition initially is not too far away from our levels.
The buildup has to be gradual."
Majd is almost through with her architectural studies at the
University of Sharjah.
Majd said: "The course is the standard five-year duration but I am
into my sixth year as a senior student because of the extended time
due to my table tennis commitments. I should be graduating this
academic year.
"We have to spend time evaluating the lower tier which we belong to
and then draw up plans and train accordingly to go up the
international ladder.
"Table tennis is extremely woman friendly which suits players like us.
The doubles bronze along with Noura at the last Arab Games in Sharjah
was an opening chapter for UAE women's table tennis. We edged out the
Kuwaiti pair in the bronze playoff. Remember, Kuwait, Qatar and
Bahrain have a long history of the game unlike us where the sport is
still in the catch-up process."
Noura is in Grade 11 at the Dubai Women's College High School while
Amira and Shamma are Grade 11 students at Aisha bint Othman School.
Noura said: "What got me into the sport is the appeal it has both as
an indoor sport as well as one which is friendly like Majd said
earlier. Training regularly with gym workouts and exposure on the
international stage are musts for us and for the future of women's
table tennis in the UAE."
https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/uae-women-learning-curve-090538308.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Jan 9 2015
UAE women on a learning curve
The UAE women's squad are keen on moving on in their learning process
of a sport that is still almost brand new among the nationals here.
The UAE squads (men and women) have got the opportunity of their
playing careers by being allowed to take part as the host nation in
this elite group of table tennis players from all the continents.
The UAE women's squad which lost 0-3 to the strong Singapore team in
the first round of the group matches on Table 2, are keen on moving on
in their learning process of a sport that is still almost brand new
among the nationals here, at least among women at the international
level.
Leading the UAE women's team from the front is Majd Al Balooshi with
Noura Al Ma'azmi as the second singles player followed by Shamma Al
Mazrooi and Amira Al Mazrooi in third and fourth slots.
Coached by former Armenian national team player Anita Sargsyan who
spoke to the Khaleej Times soon after the Singapore fixture, the side
is still in its infant stages.
"The standards we are talking about is of another league altogether.
We are not ready yet but having got the golden opportunity to play
against the top ranked players in the world, it is our responsibility
to pick on the positives," Anita said.
"The Sharjah Ladies Club is where we train five times a week and all
the players have been available on a regular basis. Majd and Noura
have been with the national side ever since I took over two years ago.
Shamma and Amira joined the squad quite recently and are making steady
progress.
"The bronze medal at the last Arab Games in the women's doubles (Majd
and Noura) was a great step for us but at a modest level. What we need
is to have the game spread to a wider audience at the school level.
>From there a nursery producing a continuous supply of talent and
players will come out naturally.
"It is not just training camps but the awareness levels at the startup
stage and then to the club platform followed by the international
arena that are required in slow and steady stages at the moment. Then
we have to draw up a plan with a schedule of friendlies and events
where the competition initially is not too far away from our levels.
The buildup has to be gradual."
Majd is almost through with her architectural studies at the
University of Sharjah.
Majd said: "The course is the standard five-year duration but I am
into my sixth year as a senior student because of the extended time
due to my table tennis commitments. I should be graduating this
academic year.
"We have to spend time evaluating the lower tier which we belong to
and then draw up plans and train accordingly to go up the
international ladder.
"Table tennis is extremely woman friendly which suits players like us.
The doubles bronze along with Noura at the last Arab Games in Sharjah
was an opening chapter for UAE women's table tennis. We edged out the
Kuwaiti pair in the bronze playoff. Remember, Kuwait, Qatar and
Bahrain have a long history of the game unlike us where the sport is
still in the catch-up process."
Noura is in Grade 11 at the Dubai Women's College High School while
Amira and Shamma are Grade 11 students at Aisha bint Othman School.
Noura said: "What got me into the sport is the appeal it has both as
an indoor sport as well as one which is friendly like Majd said
earlier. Training regularly with gym workouts and exposure on the
international stage are musts for us and for the future of women's
table tennis in the UAE."
https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/uae-women-learning-curve-090538308.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress