Burning rubber
Zaamin Jaffer — Motorsport
Dubai-based Indian driver Zaamin Jaffer's rise in motorsport has been very impressive. A passion that began at an early age of five, the 21-year-old has steadily climbed the ladder of success and hopes to see a fruitful year this season.
Jaffer told XPRESS: "I have nothing confirmed at the moment but I will hopefully end up in a single-seater championship in the UK like Formula Renault but I am also considering Endurance Racing."
Jaffer took the podium in his first UAE National Championships race after he moved to Dubai when he was 16. He also finished a superb fourth in the British Formula Ford Championship in 2009. But it's the Formula One, the pinnacle of motorsport, Jaffer dreams to reach. "I'm very proud of how far I have come. I'm pleased with what I have achieved so far and looking forward to a strong year. I want to win all my races this year," added Jaffer, who idolises Michael Schumacher.
"Schumacher was the man who was always winning when I started to watch Formula 1. He was very strong in all areas of racing and I felt it was good to look up to that," said Jaffer, who was recently confirmed for the i1 Supercar Series that has been postponed until next year due to scheduling problems.
Pitch perfect
Varun Totadri — Cricket
It was a memorable moment for 15-year-old Varun Totadri, when Tarak Sinha, India opener Virender Sehwag's club coach in New Delhi, made him feel special by showering praises for his outstanding performances during an Academy tour.
Indeed, that was just one of those tours where Varun tasted success. The G Force Academy player and a student of Dubai Modern High School is blessed with natural talent and has been a consistent performer in the UAE circuit excelling at the junior-level tournaments.
"I was very enthusiastic about sports as a kid and when I started playing cricket I loved the game. I worked on it seriously and developed my game. I want to grow up as a good cricketer and play at a professional level," said Varun, who bowls left-arm spin and is an opening batsman.
"My school and Academy has been of great support and at home my parents really back me," added Varun, who is in his final year of school.
Varun was also selected in the probables of the Under-16 UAE team but had to pull out due to his board exams. But he is expected to join the UAE camp that will be held in preparations for the under-19 World Cup in 2014.
Girl power
Sana Tufail — Golf
She has been winning everything there is to win on the women's golf tour here in the UAE and the 15-year-old British girl has already rubbed shoulders with some of the game's biggest names. Meet Sana Tufail, who plays off a handicap of +2, possibly the lowest Ladies handicap in the Middle East and who has already become the Ladies Order of Merit Champion for 2012 with two events still to go.
She was invited to play in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters in December last year and was 53rd out of a 108 leading lady professional players on day 1 when she scored 73 gross which is reportedly the second best score by an amateur making their debut in a LET Event since 1978! Pretty impressive stats those, but Sana believes she has only just started.
"The Ladies Masters was a good learning experience and I really want to do better in international tournaments," she told XPRESS.
Sana practises at the Yas Links, Abu Dhabi and her goal is to be a top professional golfer. "As of now I am ranked No. 1 junior golfer in the Middle-East and I hope to become a successful professional golfer some day through good quality hard work," added the Grade XI student of British School, Al Khubairat.
Serb splash
Velimir Stjepanovic — Swimming
He's only 18 but already, Serbian swimming sensation Velimir Stjepanovic has made sufficient waves in the pool to make his peers sit up and take notice. Born and bred in Dubai and trained at Hamilton Aquatics by coach Chris Tidey, the youngster who was nominated by the Olympic Committee of Serbia as the best junior athlete in 2010, is hoping to build on the momentum having qualified for the London Olympics in June.
"Obviously, the Olympic Games is my number one target at the moment, and I have achieved my first target of qualifying in the 200m butterfly, my pet event," Stjepanovic told XPRESS.
Having also won the gold medal in the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly at the 2011 European Junior Swimming Championships, the Serb hopes to compete in more events now that he has qualified. "I also hope to take part in the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle in London," he added.
The qualifying mark for the 200m butterfly is 1:56.8 and Stjepanovic, who swam his best of 1:56.18 at the British Gas Swimming Championships, hopes to go even better in London. "I have the European Long Course Championships just prior to that, so I will be more prepared," he said.
Pinoy punch
Kirk Rebuyas — Tennis
Watch him play and you know how good he is. With amazing on-court speed and agility, Kirk Rebuyas has quickly established himself as one of the most promising tennis players in the UAE.
Hailing from the Philippines and a Dubai resident, the 17-year has performed exceedingly well in the junior level rising quickly through the ranks. His recent best showing came in Doha where he was finalist in the singles and won the doubles title in the under-18 boys category.
"I want to reach the top 100 by the end of this year," said Rebuyas, who is currently ranked at 387 in the ITF rankings. "It will be tough since this is my last year at school. I will have to strike the right balance and keep myself focused," he said.
Rebuyas did not have the best of starts this season falling early at the UAE tournament in Fujairah last month. "I was not doing well before going into the Qatar open but after I won my first match, I slowly began to gain my confidence and then it really helped me. Now I'm feeling great after entering the finals in both singles and double and I hope this should give me enough confidence to achieve my goal this year," Rebuyas added.
