Dubai: Four special needs riders from the UAE are dreaming big following intense preparations at the Emirates Equestrian Centre (EEC) before they depart this weekend for the 2011 Summer Special Olympic Games to be held in Athens.
"My dream is to go one better than the silver medal I won in Shanghai. And I will present this gold medal to His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai," Mohammad Zubair Al Tajjar told Gulf News.
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No stranger to the sport, this is Al Tajjar's second Special Olympics following his silver in Shanghai in 2007.
"I was too young then, but after four years I know what I want to do, and the gold medal will be a great achievement for me and the UAE," the 14 year old added.
Inspirational brother
Al Tajjar said his foray into the sport was mainly because of his brother Abdullah, an accomplished swimmer for the UAE, who has bagged a few medals of his own.
"When I saw what one could win by just taking part, I decided I wanted to be a rider and bring home medals just like him," he said.
However, his debut was not all that encouraging as he fell off his horse the very first time he sat on one.
"But that incident did not stop me from pursuing this sport. I just wanted to be there, in command, even more badly," he added.
Video: Hoping to strike gold at Special Olympic Games
The UAE first participated in the Special Olympic Games in Ireland in 2003, bagging one gold, one silver and three bronzes. Four years later, it fared much better in Shanghai bringing home three gold, seven silver and 18 bronze medals.
Al Tajjar will be joined by Sultan Saif Salem Al Khaili and two girls Aisha Saif Al Daheri and Wafa Sulaiman Al Kindi, who have been training under the caring eyes of EEC instructor Lilian Sternvad prior to their departure for Athens from Abu Dhabi this Friday.
The four UAE riders are being trained to compete in three events at the Special Olympic Games — Equitation, Prix Caprilli (jumping events) and Gymkhana Figure 8.
"I am not worried what I will have to do in the Games. My aim is to get a medal and I don't mind its colour as long as it is a medal for me and my country," Al Khaili beamed.
Attending his first Special Olympics, Al Khaili has been dedicated in following the strict regimen laid out by his instructor Sternvad.
"I love training as I know it will make me better and take me closer to my goal of a medal in Greece," he said.
Wafa, 14, said she enjoyed doing a little canter on her horse.
Motivated
"I will go and take part in the big competition and win a big trophy for my country," she said.
Anticipated to be the world's biggest sporting event for 2011, the Athens Special Olympics will start on Saturday and run through to July 4.
The equestrian events run from Monday to July 3.
