His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, received in his office, at the Emiri Court (Diwan), the boxing team from the club bearing his name. His Highness was briefed on the results of the team in the Jordan Pan-Arab Club Championship and other tournaments.
Team Manager Ahmed Khatir, and team coach Adel Al-Eshri, were joined by a team of young boxers from Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi Boxing Club, who recently won 8 first place and 3 second place finishes in the Abu Dhabi national Championships.
Prior to that, and despite having to cut short their training camp in Egypt following the events in the country earlier this year, the team managed to win 3 bronze medals at the Pan-Arab Club Championships in Jordan, where they were up against seasoned, established boxing teams such as Egypt and Iraq.
Coach Al-Eshri was, however, encouraged by the performance and said: “Considering the disruption to our training schedule, which is a vital part of preparations for boxers, and bearing in mind the quality of the competition and size of the tournament, which had 48 clubs competing from 23 countries, considering all that we have to be very happy with the results and I’m sure the experience in itself was worth it”.
Al-Eshri thanked the Crown Prince for his unlimited support saying that because of him Fujairah can be proud of having the best boxing team in the country and promising more achievements.
Team Manger Khaitir repeated Al-Eshri’s comments and added that the Crown Prince’s backing of the team, as illustrated by the Emiri Court reception, is a source of great boost and inspiration to the young boxers.
Also attending the reception was Salim Al Zahmi, Director of the Office of the Crown Prince of Fujairah who Khaitir and Al-Eshri also credit for his support and backing.
Meanwhile, Khatir and Al-Eshri are hoping to conclude preparations for a Gulf club tournament, to be held here in Fujairah and have already traveled to Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to invite teams to the UAE’s East Coast as part of their strategy to expose their boxers to some crucial international level experience.
Fuad Mohammed Ali
