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CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
A successful summer for the Kuwait Athletics delegation grabbing medals in India, Tunisia, and London.
j u l 31 2017
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RI A B
O IC F
LD I W
FEEI
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~ @WILD.KWT
coming soon..
#FINDtheWILD
07 31 2017
the sports journal
F EAT U R ES
WARM-UP 04
of the month
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recap
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Fourteen’s selection of the month
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An analysis of the transfer ban on Al Arabi imposed by the FIFA
some history
The story behind Kuwait’s national handball team’s first qualification to the summer Olympics
news
Taking a look at the FINA’s first vice-president’s corruption allegations before his re-election campaign for the no.2 role in FINA.
Front Cover: Alexander Hassenstein | Getty Images Above: Dibyangshu Sarkar | AFP | Getty Images
i s s u e 009
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hurdles
An editorial on a summer of triumph and medals for the Kuwait Athletics delegation. A review of their performance in: the Asian Athletics Championship, the Arab Athletics Championship, and the World Para Athletics Championship
jaguars
A story of a team that took the 2016/2017 season by a storm. Coming out of nowhere Jaguars toppled the women’s football giants and previous titleholders and emerged as the new champions in town.
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RECOVERY 29
sports science
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university athletics
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the event
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featured ad
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the gym ad
Faisal Al Shawa offers tips on the how to best burn your body fat AUM’s Squash and Table Tennis players dominate the UAAK The 2017 Porsche Super Cup A walk through the Refit App A sit down with Nader Golshaifi, Partner at [Lyfe] Cycle spin studio
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OF THE MONTH
NUMBER OF THE MONTH
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Twelve is the number of medals that the Kuwait Athletics delegation won this summer between three tournaments: the Asian Athletics Championship, the Arab Athletics Championship, and the World Para Athletics Championship.
TWEET OF THE MONTH “Live on Bein is the Asian Futsal Champions League match between Al Dhafra (UAE) and Al Rayyan (Qatar), meanwhile our clubs our watching at home thanks to our sports leadership that works hard for the development of our country. ” @S8_Aman - Salem Aman - 27/7/2017
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
Al Arabi’s reputation in the transfer market is poor” Abdulrazaq Marafi - May 27th 2017 - Al Adalah TV
FLOP OF THE MONTH As always, Al Arabi find themselves in a new dilemma as the Kuwait Footbal l Association has decided to uphold FIFA’s transfer ban and not allow Al Arabi to register any new players for the upcoming season.
TOP OF THE MONTH On the 15th of July Kuwait’s Ahmad Al-Mutairi finished first in the men’s 100 m wheelchair track race, T33 category, of athletics competitions at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, held in London.
Left: World Para Athletics
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RECAP
Transfer ban dilemma for Al-Arabi
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he latest FIFA response to the transitional Kuwait Football Assoc i at i o n ’s ( K FA ) q u e r y regarding Al Arabi’s transfer ban during this summer’s transfer window leaves Al Arab’s administration in a tough spot. Al Arabi received the transfer ban as a result of not paying the Gambian international, Ebrima Sohna’s, wages, and will hold Al Arabi back for two transfer windows.
whole, thus including all teams that may represent said club at amateur, and professional level in various competitions, regardless of the age category.”
FIFA’s position was clear in their letter to the KFA, stating that “…the ban imposed on a club by decision of the DRC, from registering any new players either nationally or internationally, for two entire and consecutive registration periods, applies to professional as well amateur players and is imposed on the club as a
The transitional KFA has decided to uphold FIFA’s decision and informed Al Arabi of FIFA’s letter. If the transitional KFA is unable to register players through the TMS electronic system, they will have to resort to updating club rosters through the Association’s official records. The situation calls for both the transitional
Courtesy of Fifa
As a result, considering both KFA’s suspension from FIFA and the unrecognized legitimacy of the current transitional KFA, Al Arabi will be unable to register new players and may face further charges if they choose to disregard FIFA’s verdict.
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KFA and Al Arabi to think ahead on the off chance that Kuwait’s sports ban is lifted.
other interpretations
Others have expressed the view that since FIFA doesn’t recognize the transitional KFA and league scores of the past two seasons, Al Arabi should go ahead and sign players without registering them in the FIFA records. If Al Arabi does decide to sign players without registering them and the sports ban is lifted midseason, those players will not be able to continue playing, as they cannot be registered. Thus, the club may face potentially paying wages to players, for a number of years, who are not allowed to play. Can their new manager Mohammed Ibrahim challenge for titles next season without any new signings?
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SOME HISTORY
21 st July, 1980.
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uwait ’s national handball team qualified for the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics after Japan and China both boycotted the games that year. The 1980 Summer Olympics boycott was one part in a number of actions
Courtesy of Herald Sun
initiated by the United States in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Kuwait had finished 3rd behind China and Japan in the 1979 Asian Men’s Handball Championship in Nanjing,
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China and thus was next in line for the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics. It was the first time Kuwait’s handball team qualified for the Olympics, and their first recorded participation in an international tournament.
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THE MOMENT
hussain al qallaf Huseen Al Qallaf of Kuwait competes in the three meter diving competition during the XI FINA World Championships at the Parc Jean-Drapeau on July 19, 2005 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Nick Laham | AFP | Getty Images
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NEWS
Questions going into FINA elections First Vice-President, Husain Al Musallam, in corruption spotlight
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ith the FINA (Federation Internationale de natation) election only days away, a bombshell hit the election halls of Budapest and officials are scrambling to defuse it.
currently under investigation by the FBI in the United States. Having reportedly bribed an Asian soccer official. According to SwimVortex, the audio recording that implicated Al Musallam of demanding a commission from the Chinese marketing agency emerged from the FBI investigation into FIFA.
Husain Al Musallam, the First Vice-President of FINA, is reported as asking for a ten-percent cut of sponsorship deals arranged by the Olympic Committee of Asia (OCA), according to a joint report from The Times (London), Spiegel Online (Germany) and SwimVortex.
Al Musallam represents Kuwait in his position with FINA, but the Kuwaiti swimming federation is currently under suspension, and many swimming officials in Kuwait have expressed that they do not support him. At the same time, FINA and the Asia Swimming Federation, along with other groups, have maintained their support of Al Musallam.
In an audiotape recording of Al Musallam discussing a deal with a Chinese marketing agency on behalf of the OCA, Al Musallam reportedly asked for a ten-percent “commission.”
Swimming World has obtained an exchange of letters over the past three weeks surrounding the legitimacy of Al Musallam’s ability to be elected. FINA supports the eligibility of Al Musalliam’s candidacy, while Presidential candidate Paolo Barelli, does not.
Al Musallam is the Kuwaiti Director General of the OCA, but an arrangement in which funds are directed to him and his associates would be considered highly unusual. On top of the ten-percent commission, he and Chinese agent Ann Yuan Yee agreed that she would receive an eight percent commission and a further one percent would be withheld for running costs.
Al Musallam is running unopposed to continue his position of First Vice-President, the No. 2 role within FINA. With Julio Maglione favored to retain his own position as FINA President, even at the age of 81, Al Musallam would assume acting President duties should Maglione be ill or otherwise incapable of serving.
This is not the first time this year that Al Musallam has been connected to controversy. This past May, he was connected as a possible co-conspirator in the FIFA corruption scandal,
The Times
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HURDLES
C ATC H M E
HURDLES A successful summer for the Kuwait Athletics delegation grabbing medals in India, Tunisia, and London. An editorial by Four teen
Joosep Martinson | Getty Images
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summer filled with accomplishments and medals for the Kuwait national Athletics team and Kuwait’s Paralympian Olympic and world champion. During the month of July Kuwait participated in the 22nd Asian Athletics Championship in Bhubaneswar, India, the 20th Arab Athletics Championship in Rades, Tunisia, and the World ParaAthletics Championships in London. Kuwait finished 7th in the Asian Championship which was the highest rank amongst the GCC and Arab countries in Asia and 4th in the overall medal count in the Arab Championship. Winning two gold medals and one silver medal in India. Four gold, one silver, and three bronze medals in Tunisia. Kuwait’s Athletics delegation proved to have incredible talents and world class athletes ready to take on the world. Abdulaziz Al Mandeel and Ibrahim Al Dhafiri ended Kuwait’s 6-year gold less streak at the Asian Athletics Championships and brought home two gold medals from India. Following their impressive performance Al Madneel, Al Dhafiri, and silver medalist Yaqoub Al Youha have qualified to the big stage and will compete on the 5th and 6th of August in the IAAF World Championships in London. RESULTS IN INDIA
Kuwait ’s Ibrahim Al-Dhafiri and Abdulaziz Al Mandeel emerged victorious on Sunday the 8th of July in the 800m race and the 110m hurdles to close out the Asian Athletics Championship held in the Eastern Indian city of Bhubaneshwar. Al Dhafiri finished ahead of Qatar ’s Jamal Hairane by 0.047 seconds and the 28-year-old earned his first ever gold medal at the Asian Championships. Following the race, the head of the Kuwaiti delegation Mr. Salah Al Merri spoke to KUNA
Dibyangshu Sarkar | AFP | Getty Images
“ T h e K u w a i t i a t h l e t e’ s ( I b r a h i m Al-Dhafiri) tenacity propelled h i m t o t h e w i n n e r ’ s c i r c l e .”
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“It will be the first participation in the World Athletics Championship for all three runners and t h e y h o p e t o l e a v e a m a r k i n t h e b i g l e a g u e s .” “ The Kuwaiti athlete’s (Ibrahim Al Dhafiri) tenacity propelled him to the winner’s circle”. Al-Dhafiri was not the only one from the Kuwaiti delegation to win gold at the Asian Championships. Abdulaziz Al Mandeel also triumphed at the continental stage and won the gold medal in the 110m hurdles race. Al Mandeel has finally won the gold medal after winning the silver medal in the 110m hurdles back in the 2015 Asian Championships. The 28-yearold beat his own countryman Yaqoub
Dibyangshu Sarkar | AFP | Getty Images
Al Youha by 0.09 seconds. Both Al Mandeel and Al Youha celebrated dominating the race and Mr. Saif Al Dosari Kuwait’s chief of delegation praised the high spirits and persistence of the Kuwaiti Athletes. The gold medalist expressed through his social media accounts his gratitude to God and sent out a message to his doubters saying, “Ignore the people that keep saying it’s impossible.” Moreover, Al-Mandeel’s Kazma Club chairman Mr. Assad Al Banwan praised Al Mandeel’s achievement and urged the government to invest
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in him saying “Al Mandeel has the potential to become a world champion and he must receive the support and attention required. We must all help create the best environment for him to reach his potential.” Silver medalist Yaqoub Al Youha also took to social media and dedicated his medal to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, the Kuwaiti people, and his coach Bader Abbas Dashti.
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flew to Rades, Tunisia to compete in the 20th Arab Athletics Championship. The Kuwaiti delegation grabbed a total of eight medals and finished 4th in the overall ranking. The Arab Athletics Championship witnessed surprise for the Kuwait Athletics delegation. The Asian 110m hurdles champion Abdulaziz Al-Mandeel tripped and did not clear one of the hurdles at the beginning of the race. Al-Mandeel was the favorite to win the gold especially following his performance in India. He was left injured on the track and carried out by the medics. In the same race, the Asian 110m hurdles silver medalist Yaqoub Al Youha finished first beating Tunisia’s Rami Gherselli by just over a second. In other races, the Kuwaiti delegation won an array of medals, Yousef Karam won the 400m gold medal, Majed Al Zaid won the Decathlon gold medal, Eissa Al Zankawi won the Discus gold medal, Khaled Al Subaei won the triple jump silver medal, and in the 100m men’s relay Kuwait’s Yaqoub Al Yohah, Mishaal Al Mutairi, Abdulaziz Qurainis, and Hussain Al Shihah won bronze. As for the women, Kuwait’s Fajer Mandani won the Discus bronze medal and Nadia Al Haqan won the High Jump bronze medal.
Furthermore, Al Yohah promised his fans that there is more where that came from. With that, Kuwait ended their successful journey in Bhubaneswar, India winning 3 medals and finishing 7th in the overall ranking. A massive improvement to their previous participations, Kuwait finished 13th and 15th in the last two Asian Championship in 2013 and
Left: Dibyangshu Sarkar | AFP | Getty Images Right: Paul Harding | PA Images | Getty Images
2015. National Assembly speaker Marzouq Al Ghanim sent letters to the three champions congratulating on their continental conquest stating that their achievement at the Asian Championship is a testament to the Kuwaiti’s athletic capabilities and potential. RESULTS IN TUNIS
A week after the Asian Championships the Kuwaiti Athletics team
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The Kuwaiti delegation’s head coach Hussein Abbas was very impressed with the team’s overall performance at the Arab Athletics Championship. Abbas added “We should have won more than eight medals and we could have won up to twelve medals but unfortunately some of our athletes were injured and couldn’t make it to the championship.” He went on “We were missing the Arab Shotput champion Mishari Suroor who got injured in India, Arab and GCC Hammer Throw champion Ali Al Zankawi, and the GCC 400m hurdles champion Hamed Saleem couldn’t travel and was held back by arrangements at his workplace.
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A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN
On the 15th of July Kuwait’s Ahmad Al-Mutairi finished first in the men’s 100 m wheelchair track race, T33 category, of athletics competitions at the 2017 World ParaAthletics Championships, held in London. Al-Mutairi came in lead at record time of 17 seconds, coming ahead of his three British competitors who finished the race at 17.79 seconds. “Al-Mutairi’s win has, once again, raised Kuwait ’s flag and Kuwait ’s national anthem was played at a major international sporting event” said Anwar Al-Mutawa, head of the Kuwaiti delegation. The Olympic and world champion expressed his pride winning first place and representing Kuwait stating “I love that I can raise the Kuwaiti flag for my country. It’s great to win
here because I was here in 2012, and didn’t win anything then. I’m so happy to put that right. The competition was very tight tonight but I was never worried, even when I was behind at the beginning.” The 23-year-old added “I knew I had enough distance to make it up, but there was confusion at the start because I thought the athletes on either side of me had moved. They should have been warned.” Al Mutairi praised the atmosphere in the stadium “The crowd were great, they were cheering all of us on. It felt as though they were cheering for me as well as the British guys. I had a feeling that I would break the record tonight, so that wasn’t a surprise.” Al Mutairi has had an impressive year overall breaking the record for the 100m T33 at Nottwil, Switzerland and comfortably winning gold at
“ I g n o r e t h e p e o p l e t h a t ke e p s ay i n g i t ’ s i m p o s s i b l e .”
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the World Championships. Ahmed Al Mutairi received a formal letter from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah congratulating him on winning gold at the London World ParaAthletics Championship. TRAINING CAMP AND FUTURE AHEAD IN LONDON
Asian gold and silver medalists A b d u l a z i z A l - M a n d e e l , I b ra h i m Al Dhafiri, and Yaqoub Al Youha are currently in a training camp in London in preparations for the World Athletics Championships which kick off on the 5th of August. Kuwait’s champions are up against a difficult change competing with the world’s finest in London. It will be the first participation in the World Athletics Championship for all three runners and they hope to leave a mark in the big leagues. Furthermore, Asian champion Abdulaziz Al-Mandeel stated that he has his eyes set on qualifying to the Summer Olympics games 2020 in Japan and hopes to accomplish his dream of winning an Olympic gold medal.
ABDULAZIZ AL-MANDEEL YAQOUB AL-YOUHA Kuwait’s athletes Al-Mandeel (R) and Al-Youha (L) fall to their knees to celebrate after winning the gold and the silver medal, respectively, in the men’s 110m hurdles event. Dibyangshu Sarkar | AFP | Getty Images
ABDULAZIZ SAIF Abdulaziz Saif competing in the men’s 400m race during the fourth day of the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on July 8, 2017. Courtesy of Abdulaziz Saif Instagram
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AHMAD AL MUTAIRI
“I had a feeling that I would break the record tonight, so that w a s n’ t a s u r p r i s e .”
Kuwait’s Ahmad Al Mutairi with his tradtional celebration after winning gold in the Men’s 100m T33 Final during day two of the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships at the London Stadium. Paul Harding | PA Images | Getty Images
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IBRAHIM AL-DHAFIRI Kuwaiti runner Al-Dhafiri reacts after competing in the men’s 800m to win gold on the final day of the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on July 9, 2017. Dibyangshu Sarkar | AFP | Getty Images
AHMAD AL-MUTAIRI Al-Mutairi leading the pack as he crosses the finish line in the Men’s 100m T33 Final of the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships at London Stadium. World Para Athletics
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“A l M a n d e e l h a s t h e p o t e n t i a l t o b e c o m e a w o r l d c h a m p i o n a n d h e m u s t r e c e i ve t h e s u p p o r t a n d a t t e n t i o n r e q u i r e d . We m u s t a l l h e l p c r e a t e t h e b e s t e nv i r o n m e n t f o r h i m t o r e a c h h i s p o t e n t i a l .” - mr. assad al banwan kazma club chairman
ABDULAZIZ AL-MANDEEL Al-Mandeel raising his arms to cheer on the crowd after winning gold at the men’s 110m hurdles event during the third day of the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on July 8, 2017 Dibyangshu Sarkar | AFP | Getty Images
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THE MOMENT
national championship Bahrain Motocross National Day Championship held in Sakhir with more than 20 riders from Kuwait and Bahrain taking part on December 20, 2013 NurPhoto | Getty Images
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JAGUARS
JAGUARS The women’s football team who took the 2016/2017 season by a storm An inter view with Fatima Al Hamad, Riham Ghamloush, Mastourah Al Rashidi
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eemingly out of nowhere, the Jaguars were able to topple the women’s football elite and previous titleholders, emerging as the new champions in town. Fourteen interviewed three of the most influential and highest performing players on the team, players who helped the Jaguars win 3 medals this season, while simultaneously earning individual awards as well. Fatima Al Hamad - architect by day, Nady Al Fatat’s basketball player and Jaguars goalkeeper by night Riham Ghamloush - wonder kid who first discovered her football talent in the streets of Lebanon Mastourah Al Rashidi - a basketball player at Nady Al Fatat who had
Left: Courtesy of 80 Percent
turned to football during basketball’s off-season to maintain her fitness.
jaguars coming to g e t h e r
Riham started our conversation off by explaining the Jaguars’ beginnings - “We didn’t all start with Jaguars when it was first formed. The team was formed by Seham Al Khraif. She brought together a bunch of women who were interested in playing football and started practicing.” She added that, “Seham supplied the team with all the equipment and we would practice twice a week.” Meanwhile Fatima and Mastourah were playing for another team, “Waves,” and met the Jaguars through the Kuwait Women’s Football League (KWFL). Fatima and Mastourah, alongside other girls, began practicing with the Jaguars and before long there were so many
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players that they would create two teams. With time, the team started to shape up organically; the more committed players built noticeable cohesion on the field and were picked over players that were not regulars. Eventually, 10 players, those that created the best formation and strongest squad possible, were chosen to be Jaguars.
first medal
September 2016 the Jaguars won their first ever medal in a 6 team tournament organized by Shima, a sports event planning company. The Jaguars finished the group stage round top of the table, above Nady Al Fatat who would later win silver in the same tournament. They ended up losing in the semi-finals to Vamos, the team that went on to win the tournament, and finished in 3rd place. Although they were on the podium side by side
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“It felt amazing to finally be a part of a team where we can all play our heart out and win games.” with their fellow winners, the Jaguars were not satisfied. They knew and believed that they could do better than just 3rd place. That hunger and determination pushed the Jaguars to have an outstanding campaign in the KWFL.
the best team didn’t win
KWFL, the only football league for women in Kuwait, kicked off in October 2016. They play a long season spread out over 6 months of weekly matches. The league was made up of 10 teams at the time, but from the get-go, the Jaguars sent a message loud and clear that they were the team to beat. They started their season with a bang, annihilating Wings in their first match with 13 goals to nothing. In their second
Courtesy of 80 Percent
match, they edged out titleholders Vamos 3-2, and during their 4th, they ripped apart footballing giants West Wing 7-2. It was obvious this team meant business. Soon the underdogs looked like the likely team to win the league. Fatima described the feeling during the tournament as “surreal.” She continued on to say that, “it was a new feeling for most of us. It is not everyday that we beat the big teams like Vamos and West Wing.” Riham agreed, adding, “we used to fear the teams we played against, then suddenly teams feared playing us. That made us feel very confident walking into games knowing that the team against us was afraid.” For Mastourah the Jaguars gave her a new experience
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of the game. She explains that, “It was great, because in the past I played for weaker teams, that no matter how well I played, we would still lose. It felt amazing to finally be a part of a team where we can all play our hearts out and win games.” However, the season didn’t end the way they expected it to. The Jaguars topped the table for the vast majority of the league, and for many people, they looked like they were sure to win. It was in the final stages of the KWFL that Nady Al Fatat refused to lie down and cinched the title. The Jaguars finished second and won the silver medal. Mastourah first expressed that she was “gutted,” continuing on to explain, ”I was injured and couldn’t
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play the last two matches and it was so frustrating for me to have to sit on the bench and watch my team play. I wanted to be on the field helping my team.” Fatima was more confused with what had happened than anything - “I couldn’t tell if we were losing because we weren’t playing well or because of the match officials. We conceded 2 penalties in one game! There was something wrong!” She added that, “It was only until the next tournament, when there were different referees, that I wasn’t wrong for questioning them.” Riham summarized how she felt with one phrase, “It was a shock, I don’t think I slept that night.” After a while she explained how “the most disappointing part wasn’t that we lost, it was because the loss wasn’t because of anything the team did. It was someone who controlled the game who made the difference.”
champions
After a disappointing finish to an impressive campaign, the Jaguars were ready for payback at the 80 Percent women’s football tournament over Ramadan. They were back with a vengeance. The Jaguars taught
Courtesy of 80 Percent
everyone who had ever beat them a new lesson, easily topping their group above the Salwa Al Sabah team who had beat them in the same tournament last year. During the semifinals, the Jaguars faced off against Nady Al Fatat, with the loss of the KWFL still fresh in their memory. To some it seemed like it was going to be a close game between the first and second
“Everyone in the team played a role in this success. The environment really helped us to thrive... everyone gave their 110%.” 26
place winners of the KWFL, however, that was not what Jaguars had in mind. It was a blow out - 6 goals to zip. The Jaguars marched on confidently to the final, playing against titleholders Vamos. In a situation all too familiar for many, the Jaguars were favorites to win but it would be tough to outdo an experienced team like Vamos. The Jaguars had turned up to the final with one thing on their mind - to lift that trophy. And that is exactly what they did! Finally, the Jaguars had beat Vamos 4-0 and were crowned champions of 80 Percent’s football tournament. “We proved to everyone what this team was made of, we only conceded one goal in the entire tournament and we had the toughest road to the final. Every team that beat us before, we were able to beat comfortably,” Mastourah exclaimed, proudly summing up her experience. Fatima and Riham went on to praise the team’s efforts, saying, “everyone on the team played a role in this success. The environment really helped us to thrive, no one complained whether they started or were on the bench, and everyone gave their 110%.”
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THE MOMENT
yousef al sulaiman Yousef Al Sulaiman of Kuwait jumps for the ball beside Hungary’s Zsolt Korcsmaros during a friendly football match between Hungary and Kuwait on June 6, 2013 at the local stadium of Gyor, Hungary. Attila Kisbenedek | AFP | Getty Images
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SPORTS SCIENCE
Courtesy of ShutterStock
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FA T B U R N I N G CURIOSITY Written by Faisal Al Shawa | Founder of Believe Nutrition
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nfo r t u n ate l y, p e o p l e tend to associate fat loss with foods and/or supplements that will increase ‘fat burn’. For me, fat burning foods or supplements simply don’t exist. Not only is this my personal opinion but the science also demonstrates this. Having said that, every individual is different. There is no one size that fits all for fat burn and so I’m here to explain the curiosity surrounding this issue. Let me begin. Gender Differences
Women - you’re going to like this one. To date, numerous studies have reached the same conclusion - females have a greater capacity to burn fat than males. The mechanisms undermining these conclusions seem to be determined by hormonal responses of exercise that are in favor of women. Women experience different hormonal responses and stresses which impact their ability to burn fat relative to men. Mode of Exercise
Studies conducted in the lab to
Left: Courtesy of Faisal Al Shawa
measure the fat burning capacity of individuals showed that those who partook in treadmill based protocols showed a greater capacity to burn fat than cycling based protocols. Why? During treadmill running, the body recruits more muscle fibers, as opposed to cycling. The more muscle fibers are recruited, the greater the capacity of using fat as fuel due to the release of hormones and enzymes which trigger fat burn. So the next time you hit the gym, use the treadmill rather than the cycle! Fat Burning Capacity
We all know that differences exist with regards to an individual’s ability to burn fat. So what dictates your fat burning capacity? I can’t precisely define this, but what I can do is share the available evidence showing inter-individual variations in 24 hour fat burning capacity. Here’s what the evidence suggests: • 18% of the variance is related to body fat, gender and age • 28% of the variance is related to genetics
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• This leaves 54% of unexplained factors which may affect our capacity to burn fat. So what can you draw from such conclusions? Well, we still don’t know the majority of what determines our ability to burn fat, but genetics do play a key role! As mentioned, females have a greater ability to burn fat, and of course, with an increase in age and body fat percentage, it becomes more difficult to burn fat. So, what are my recommendations based on these conclusions? First and foremost, save yourself the headache of dwelling upon your ability to burn fat. At the end of the day, genetics are all more powerful and will win every time. While this holds true, you should still adopt a lifestyle in favor of increasing your ability to burn fat. Engage in exercises that recruit more muscle fibers, such as running, weight-lifting and high-intensity activities (i.e. circuit training) and perhaps exercise on an empty stomach (before breakfast) as well. Fat burn, it may twist your hair out, but it can definitely happen if approach in the right way!
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UAAK
MATCH POINT AU M , o n c e a g a i n , c h a m p i o n s of UA A K S q u a s h a n d Ta b l e Te n n i s
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he American University of the Middle East participated in the 2017 University Athletics Association of Kuwait (UAAK) edition, a tournament for private universities on a national level. Similar to previous years, our competing teams made significant results in a variety of categories, securing the Squash and Table Tennis Championships for this year in both Men and Women’s categories. While it is a first win for AUM students participating in the women’s
Courtesy of AUM
categories, this win comes for the second consecutive year in the men’s. In the Squash Championship, our AUM students who won the men’s category are Ahmed Al Tawari, in first place, and Athbi Hamad, in second place. In the Women’s Squash Championship, Nourhan Ahmed won the overall championship, followed by Nadia Al Haqqan in second place. In the Table Tennis Championship, Hussain Al Halwaji won the men’s category; as for the Women’s Table
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Tennis Championship, Yara Aabdin came in first place and Farah Al Suraihi in second. The American University of the Middle East (AUM) congratulates its students for their achievements and stays devoted to its mission, offering continuous support to students’ personal growth, encouraging them to develop their various talents, in addition to providing them with the highest educational standards.
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THE EVENT
2017 Porsche Supercup The 2017 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup is the 25th Porsche Supercup season
Split seconds determine victory or defeat in motorsport. Race after race, the drivers, teams and fans ask the same question before each race: who is going to win? In the brutal head to head duel, bumper against bumper. Ultimately only one person can stand at the top of the winner’s rostrum. FORMULA 1 MAGYAR NAGYCIJ Round 6 Hungaroring, Budapest 28th-30th July, 2017 Length: 4.381km Corners: 14
Porsche Press
Over 60 years of Porsche Motorsport encapsulate a host of success stories. One such exciting story began in 1992 with the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. Just a year after it began, the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup became part of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship
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– always held directly ahead of the Grand Prix races at European and international top locations. The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, the most competitive of the worldwide Porsche onemake series, has provided a riveting stage for the drama of driving to the limit. It sparks enthusiasm in drivers, teams, partners and sponsors and moreover offers an excellent business platform. Zaid Ashkanani Kuwait’s 23-year-old racing driver participated in the race with MRS GT Racing team. Ashkanani is ranked 9th in the standings finishing
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CURRENT STA N D I N G S:
1. Michael AmmermĂźller (GER) 2. Dennis Olsen (NOR) 3. Daniel Cammish (UK) 4. Matt Campbell (AUS) 5. Dylan Pereira (LUX) 6. Robert Lukas (POL) 7. Josh Webster (UK) 8. Mattia Drudi (ITA) 9. Zaid Ashkanani (KWI) 10. Daniele Di Amato (ITA) 11. Steven Palette (FRA) 12. Philip Morin (SWE) 13. Mikkel Pedersen (DEN)
5 of the Supercup races and with 6 races left. His highest finish was 4th place in the Circuit de Monaco on the 28th of May.
events. The basic principle of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup guarantees a fair competition at the highest sporting level, thus offering the best preconditions for a thrilling competition.
The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup is organised directly by Porsche AG. With this, Porsche guarantees a professional service in all organisational and technical questions. In order to ensure that every driver has exactly the same chance, all teams compete in identical vehicles based on the seventh generation of the 911 GT3 Cup. Specialists of Porsche Motorsport provide professional support in all areas – from technical assistance to spare parts service to press and hospitality
Porsche Press
The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup continues its international success story based on the highest standards of professionalism of its teams and organisation. All participating teams have many years of experience in motorsport, something that is evident from their ability to prepare cars and drivers perfectly for the various challenges of a race meeting and to develop the right strategies to ensure a successful performance on and off the track.
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14. Paul Rees (UK) 15. Igor Walilko (POL) 16. Ryan Cullen (IRE) 17. Al Faisal Al Zubair (OMA) 18. Tom Sharp (UK) 19. Roar Lindland (NOR) 20. Nico Rindlisbacher (SWI) 21. Egidio Perfetti (HOL)
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F EAT U R E D A D
R E F I T
W
hat do you get when you combine a n ex- g y m n a st , a physical trainer, a cross-fit enthusiast and a very fit hipster with an eye for a successful business? The answer is Refit; a novel concept for anyone looking to achieve their maximum fitness potential in Kuwait. “Refit was initially conceived as an all-purpose gym,” narrated Jarrah and Faisal. This in itself is not a bad
Courtesy of Refit
idea in a country where fitness has currently become everyone’s top priority. “But logistically, we saw a lot of issues,” says Faisal. He’s got a point. Among the hundreds of gyms and fitness centers that have sprung up around Kuwait in the last few years, it would’ve been easy for a concept like Refit to go unnoticed. The friends, however, were undeterred – if not a gym, then why not an app? In all honesty, they couldn’t have come up with a trendier solution for
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A P P Kuwait’s fitness needs – everybody loves an app in Kuwait! So promising was their business idea, in fact, that it was picked by Brilliant Lab as a winning tech start-up venture. The guys were then taken to Silicon Valley to help them polish their business idea into a user-friendly experience. Jarrah decided to walk us through the Refit app, explaining all its features and workings to give us a better idea of their work. It is
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immediately evident that there is a clarity in the way the Refit guys have shaped their app. They’ve thought of every possible obstacle that could challenge a person’s commitment to getting fit, and then provided solutions that are simple and convenient. This clarity also shows in the design of the app and website. It is sleek and clean in its layout, with no frills or crowded screens. The homepage asks you to identify whether you are a user or trainer, and then takes over your fitness journey for you. You’re given a variety of fitness options – from cross-fit training to aerobics, martial arts to dance and water sports – any activity that helps you achieve fitness finds a place at Refit. “We wanted to create an app that is beneficial not only for the users, but also for professional trainers,” says Jarrah. “Once you register as a user, you get access to all available trainers, their availability, the training they offer, and their rates,” continues Abdullah. All sessions are booked and paid for beforehand,
kingdome.co
and the app also acts a reminder and fitness-tracker for the user, while doubling as an appointment dairy for the trainers. It is here that the app truly finds its niche. Trainers are given the freedom to manage their own workout programs once they register with Refit. From uploading videos of the services they offer, to customizing the nature of their training programs, trainers have as much control as the participants in determining the nature of their classes and the rates they charge. Faisal understands how inconvenient and awkward it can be to keep track of payments during fitness sessions. “When I would conduct a class,” he recalls “I had to pay attention to many things at once – making sure the class was not too crowded, giving each participant enough attention and keeping track of the late-comers and ones who hadn’t paid. It was not always easy,” he sighs. “And that’s where Refit works as a perfect solution,” pipes in Abdullah, completing Faisal’s idea for him.
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To provide users with a truly comprehensive fitness experience, Refit also serves as an online store specializing in fitness supplements. “We wanted to create a concept that helps the user in every way. “Convenience is key,” stresses Faisal. “Whatever it takes to get a person fit, we have provided it on Refit.” This passion to redefine fitness in Kuwait is strong among the four friends, to the extent that it is a big part of their efforts to give back to the community. “We take our social responsibility seriously,” Jarrah told us, “and a large portion of our proceeds are reserved towards helping children, people living with diabetes and other such projects.” I often find that such big-hearted gestures come from those who also like to think big, and it made me curious about the direction the guys wanted to take Refit in. The answer was as straight forward as I expected. With a cheeky grin, Faisal replied, “take over the world with fitness.”
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THE GYM AD
O
ne would be hard pressed to find many gym owners as passionate about their business as Nader Golshaifi. [Lyfe] Cycle, the space he calls his second home, has been a dream of his for several years. Fourteen first had a conversation with him last year, during which he confessed his eagerness to make his passion his life. We’re glad to say that 5 weeks ago, he was able to follow through with that dream and announce the opening of Lyfe Cycle.
it than the place he calls home – Kuwait, a market with a newfound appreciation for health and athleticism that continues to grow with every introduction of targeted training techniques. He admits that their execution delayed the opening of the gym, but happily concedes that everything happens for a reason. The two years it took gave him space and time to channel all his thoughts and ideas into creating a wholesome brand which is Lyfe Cycle. From the name to the branding, to the design of the space - one can look only to Nader. The time also allowed him to get Level 1 certified by Joe DeFranco, and he is continuing on to soon complete his Level 2.
Upon entering Lyfe Cycle, one can witness the extent of Nader’s full dedication - he has built his second home and treats his guests as such. We arrived slightly early, and to our pleasure, Nader was juggling between a lively discussion on spinning techniques, selling items from their limited spin apparel, making impromptu protein shakes for his subscribers, and even washing the Lyfe Bar dishes at the same time. Few can question his commitment.
“I wanted to open a type of gym in Kuwait that has training techniques that have largely been neglected in the fitness world, in this context. Cross-fit gyms exist, full-fledged gyms exist, but there aren’t many targeted gyms that are training type focused.”
We sat down to have a chat about Lyfe, the idea, the process, and how it all came together.
“I believe that the future of fitness exists in the small boutiques that focus on one sport, be it yoga, Crossfit, Pilates, or Spin. This is the future of fitness. It opens the possibility to train specifically, alternating Bootcamp with Spin and TRX for example.”
“The core idea of the spinning studio is to introduce this type of fitness conditioning in a context that hasn’t experienced it yet. Simply put, the core business of the gym is the same as other existing spin studios - they are all indoor cycling - but what makes Lyfe Cycle unique is the experience. When you visit and train with Lyfe cycle, you feel part of a community. Everyone that has come, comes to enjoy themselves, to have fun, and to get a full body workout.” The experience in the studio is one that has been rigorously experimented and fine-tuned and Nader happily asserts that when their riders complete a class, they leave with a sense of pride, accomplishment, and self-confidence.
There was a gap in the Spinning market before Lyfe Cycle. With the experience of 288 complete classes at Soul Cycle in the United States, and 78 in the preceding year of moving to Kuwait to pursue this dream, Nader was ready to teach and to lead. There are no certificate equivalences for his wealth of firsthand experience. The Lyfe brand is ultimately something people can relate to. The guys and girls that visit feel part of the Lyfe family – part of their fitness culture. Lyfe is everything related to fitness.
“I left a stable life in New York to follow my passion – fitness.” He loves being healthy, he loves spinning, he loves fitness. His life became dedicated to that passion, pushing himself forward and making the necessary sacrifices to follow it.
Stay tuned for our monthly interviews with the Lyfe brand where we will cover Lyfe Cycle as the spinning studio, Lyfe Bar as an independent health and juice bar, Lyfe Sessions with their one-off classes, as well as the Lyfe Team and Lyfe Market.
That passion led to a kernel of an idea, to open a business tailored to fitness, and there was no better place to do
Courtesy of Lyfe Cycle
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