Incheon: “One gone, two still to go,” was how Ahmad Al Kamali, President, UAE Athletics Association (UAE AA) and IAAF Council Member responded after Aliah Saeed Mohammad clinched the country’s first gold medal at the Incheon Asian Games here on Saturday.
Aliah came up with a tactical run in the women’s 10,0000 metres to finish with a personal best of 31 minutes, 51.86 seconds to win the top spot ahead of the chasing Ding Changqin from China and Ayumi Hagiwara of Japan.
Prior to departing for Incheon, Al Kamali had publicly announced at the press conference that the four-member track and field squad was in a position to return with “at least three medals, if not more”.
“That was the promise we have made and tonight we have started fulfilling it. A lot of hard work and dedication has gone into getting the first athletics medal for the UAE at these Games. Now we have got one by winning the gold in 10,000 metres. There are still two more remaining,” Al Kamali told Gulf News late on Saturday.
“It has been a golden start for us. This medal should give us a lot of confidence in the next few events,” he added.
Saber Bayaha will participate in the men’s discus throw, while Aliah will be joined by her teammate Betlhem Desalegn in the women’s 5,000 metres, a couple of days after Desalegn competes in the 1,500 metres final on Monday.
