In an interview with Al Khaleej daily upon winning the individual and team gold medals at the FEI World Endurance Championship in the United Kingdom, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stressed that he and Emiratis alike are fond of being number one.
The following is an edited translation of Al Khaleej’s interview with Sheikh Mohammed...
* Year after year, your sport achievements increase; a 160-km race ride is not an ordinary race and only one person can win the world title, Your Highness, where do you want to reach?
- I am fond of horse riding and my love for horses and horsemanship have always affected and inspired the poet in me. It is the passion to compete that runs deep.. and nothing would give me and my people more delight than to achieve the first place. Therefore we, as a nation, will not stop from aspiring to achieve more, because if we linger, we then will be at a standstill.
* How do you explain winning the world title in such harsh climate conditions
- Success is a gift from God Almighty... but, before I answer your question, I would like to dedicate this victory to my brother UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed and to my people as well as to all Arab nations whom are known for their love of horsemanship over the decades.
- As for the race, in truth, it was one of the most difficult competitions due to heavy rainfall and difficult climate conditions that were in favour of Asian and European competitors who were among the world’s strongest equestrians. Yet, by God will, implementing a sound race strategy, maintaining a balance between speed and not exhausting the horse, in addition to a two-year experience in competitions, I was able to claim the world title. In the end, no achievement can be attained without preparations, no results can be gained without hard work and no win can be made without persistence.
* This year, the UAE endurance team won the world title bagging a hat trick, what is the secret behind this achievement?
- There are no secrets to any work we carry out. You may ascribe it to hard determination and tactical planning as we had done our preparations through continuous training and I, personally, followed up on team training, encouraging and advising them. The UAE endurance team is part of the UAE people who will not settle for anything less than the first place; achieving victory for the first time was hard, but keeping the title for three successive years is even harder. With this achievement, the UAE team makes an exemplary performance for all UAE teams in all areas, proving that they, too, can achieve the first places internationally. This is what we expect from our people.
* Your sons and daughters are equestrians, is it your guidance or have they drawn your inspiration?
- Well, if horsemanship was gained by giving directions, we would have issued laws and waited for the results. However, being an equine is to act in a noble and ethical behaviour. The Messenger of Allah said: 'Goodness is tied to the forelocks of horses until the Day of Resurrection', that is why you won’t find a nation that cares for horses more than Arabs do; and my children are part of UAE people and part of the Arab nation that is known for its love for horses and horsemanship. It gives me great pride to see Emirati athletes distinguished in global arenas.. and this is how my brother the UAE President feels about aspiring for the first places and attaining excellence in all levels, a way of life set by our forefathers. We are happy about this achievement but this doesn’t mean to rest on our laurels; and we won’t look back because the future ahead abounds with opportunities.
by Raed Barqawi
