Al Shamsi makes the grade at annual Dubai Fitness Championship

Dubai lad Saoud Saif Al Shamsi became the first athlete to make the grade at the annual Dubai Fitness Championship this week.

Faced with the task of bettering or matching a pre-set time, Saoud Saif Al Shamsi clocked 13 minutes, 58.40 seconds to give himself the chance to contest in the 36-man final of the competition that is being held under the patronage of Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.

This year’s competition has several changes from that of the inaugural version held last year. The prize money for the winners in the men’s and women’s categories has been doubled to Dh200,000 each and athletes can have as many attempts at bettering their qualifying times in the preliminary stages of the contest.

The preliminary rounds for the second edition of the Dubai Fitness Championship got under way at various Fitness First Clubs in Dubai from August 18 and Championship Director Khalid Chookah is confident the annual event will go a long way in improving the quality of living in the country.

“It is too early in the competition, but we have a local boy laying down the challenge for the rest of the field. With Saoud setting up such an impressive timing, we have achieved one of the primary goals of this competition, and that is to get the UAE community involved in this contest,” Khalid Chookah said.

“I am confident that this year’s competition will be bigger and better,” he added.

Since the opening of the competition last Sunday, the qualifying rounds will be held at official partners Fitness First Clubs at Mirdif City Centre, Oasis Centre and Knowlegde Village. In addition, participants can avail of free training sessions at Fitness First in The Meadows.

Launched by Sheikh Majid last year, the championship is aimed at raising the awareness of exercise and health, while promoting the tenets of fitness among residents, especially among Emiratis.

The qualifying rounds of the championship will be held over a period of three weeks ending on September 8, leading up to the finals scheduled to be held at a specially set-up circuit on the Dubai Ice Rink at The Dubai Mall from September 12 to 14.

“Going from experience I think it is way too early to put anyone as the favourite. The rush for qualifying will be seen in the final week when everyone will be trying to be one of 36 qualifiers making it to the finals to get a share of total prize money that has reached nearly one million dirhams this year,” Chookah added.

Telephone operator du is the main sponsor, while Dubai Sports Council is the official partner of the event. Registration can be done through website www.dxbfitness.com and entry fee has been set at Dh80 per head, per entry.