Here’s what you need to know about the UAE and athletes competing in the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
UAE has six athletes representing it this year at the Summer Olympic Games.
Due to the pandemic, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics got delayed. However, the games will begin on July 23, and the closing ceremony is on Aug 8.
Firstly, Saif Bin Futtais will be the first to represent the UAE at the games as he competes in the skeet shooting competition on July 25. Futtais placed 29th in the skeet event at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Secondly comes Judoka Victor Scvortov, who will defend UAE colors in the 73kg category for Judo on July 26. Scvortov may be the second Maldovan-born Emarati Judoka to bring a medal home from the Olympics, just like Sergiu Toma in the 2016 Olympic Games.
The youngest in the team, only 18, and the rising UAE star Yousuf Al Matrooshi will also make his first Olympic statement when competing in the pool in the 100-meter freestyle event.
In an interview with The National, Al Matrooshi expressed his gratitude to participate in the games. “I’m super excited to get this opportunity, to be at the Olympics representing my country in the greatest sporting spectacle in the world,” he said.
The second judoka in the UAE team, Ivan Remarenco, will compete in the over-100 kg event on July 30. Remarenco previously represented the UAE at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games and even won a bronze medal when representing the UAE at the 2014 World Judo Championships.
In the athletic events like track and field, Fatima Al Hosani will compete in the discus throw while the sprint star Hassan Al Noubi will run in the 100-meter event on July 3.
Al Hosani told Sport360 in an interview that her dream is to win two gold medals. Al Hosni said that she looks up to her mom and the UAE Athletics Federation for being supportive.
Chairman of the National Olympic Committee, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said that the athletes would perform at their very best at the Olympics.
People are placing their bets on Victor Scvortov and Ivan Remarenco since they both previously won medals at the highest level in judo. And let us not forget that the UAE won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics when Sergiu Toma claimed a bronze in the 81kg event in judo, so fingers crossed.
