Khalid vows to win a medal at Asian Games

Khalid has lined up an ambitious training regimen that will see him aim for glory in China at the Asian Games. The Emirati has moved his training base to Lake Garda in Italy.
Image Credit: Supplied picture

Dubai: UAE sailing champion Adel Khalid has planned an ambitious training regimen that can eventually fetch him a medal at the Asian Games in China later this year.
"The plan is simple: my country needs a medal at a competition like the Asian Games and I want to be among the other athletes as a winner," Khalid told Gulf News.
The youngster has prepared an intensive three-month training schedule leading up to the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China from November 12-27.
"The schedule is meant to help me achieve certain goals leading up to the Asian Games," Khalid said.
"Though I have had very little support from the authorities, I have managed to keep myself in shape in the gym and on the European sailing circuit during the early part of the summer," he added.
"But I need a final programme leading up to the competition so that we can be sure of a medal at the Asian Games, after which we can build on the success and target a medal at the London Olympics in two years' time," the UAE sailor added.
Earlier this month, Khalid travelled to Scotland and participated in the Laser Radial class in a joint competition of the World and European Sailing Championships that attracted more than 100 sailors from all over the world.
"I ended 25th overall among these top sailors, and that gives me a lot of confidence for the future," he said.
However, what is lacking is the support that he needs from the authorities concerned to make this dream of a medal come true.
"I don't want to mince words on this but I need someone to come and support me. The UAE can be 85 per cent sure of a medal at the Asian Games. But I need to go through a proper training schedule leading to the games," Khalid said.
Tentative programme
The tentative programme will see him shift base to Lake Garda in Italy under a specialised programme set out by SailCoach, a sailing academy specialising in training champions.
Khalid has already met up with a top official from the UAE National Olympic Committee (UAENOC), who has promised a favourable response as regards his sponsorship.
"Shaikh Khalid Bin Zayed Bin Saqr Al Nahyan [president of the UAE Sailing and Rowing Association] has been very supportive of what I am doing. But now, maybe it is time the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) or any other body also needs to get involved," Khalid said.