PowerUp April 2018

www.powerup-mag.com

F1 IS GO!

UAE DHS20

This year is F1’s first-ever triple header with 21 races New designs and team line that will surprise you

Qatar QR20

RIDICULOUSLY

Bahrain BD2

KSA SR20

Kuwait KD1.75

Oman RO2

FUN! Heard of Boosaball or Dunny Derby?

Try out these new sports that are quite hilarious

OFFICIALLY AMAZING! Bahrain breaks the record for the longest play futsal tournament

TAKING FITNESS TO NEW HEIGHTS Scale the mountains and get into shape with these exciting altitude training programs

Moscow

London Paris Frankfurt Tbilisi

Istanbul

Baku

Athens

Casablanca

Larnaca Beirut Baghdad Amman Najaf Alexandria Kuwait Cairo Sharm El Sheikh Tabuk Dammam Gassim Riyadh Medina Jeddah Abha Khartoum

Sana’a

Addis Ababa

Starting June 2018

Bahrain Doha Dubai Abu Muscat Dhabi

Peshawar Islamabad Sialkot Lahore Faisalabad Multan Delhi Karachi

Dhaka

Mumbai Hyderabad Bangalore Chennai Calicut Kochi Thiruvananthapuram Colombo

Bangkok

Manila

FOREWORD

BAHRAIN AND SPORTS INFLUENCING THE GCC AND THE WORLD Sports can be a powerful tool to promote the holistic growth and development of the youth. In Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, we are dedicated to providing all sorts of opportunities for our young people as far as sports is concerned.

In today’s most challenging environment, such skill helps individuals to succeed in life, and that brings prosperity to the nation. We are always on the lookout for ways of improving facilities and practices for physical education. One example of this is that I feel we should develop a more holistic physical education policy to be implemented right from the early school stages. Possibilities for implementing such a policy are being explored. Essential life skills are so often the outcome of an effective physical education. In fact, sports have been proven to raise IQ in addition to building confidence and teaching kids about managing emotions, such as self-control. Sports help children to learn hard work, patience, persistence, and how to respond positively to setbacks and failures. Most importantly, sports helps a child to prepare to take on the many challenges that life has to offer and emerge victorious like a champion. Sports is an important part of the culture of the Gulf countries, especially endurance horse riding and show jumping, which has an immense traditional value, although we must not forget that there are other sports and sporting events that boast a rich history for us.

“

“

I strongly believe that an efficient physical education programme equips people with vital qualities, such as leadership, perseverance, social and moral character, self-esteem, commitment to teamwork, and problemsolving and organisational abilities.

Health is a lifestyle and I chose it.

I welcome PowerUp’s continued support in all areas of sports. I hope that more and more people will support local teams and sporting initiatives in their communities; educating the youth on the benefits of healthy living and a healthy lifestyle.

PowerUp is a good source of information to get you started.

HH Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth & Sports, President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee

HH Shk Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s Endurance Cup

POWERUP |MARCH 2018

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Reader’s Feedback Editor-in-Chief Deputy Editor Editorial Contributors

Redia Castillo Rose Yap Sharon Joseph HH Shaikh Nasser Media Office HH Shaikh Khalid Media Office Bahrain Olympic Committee Team Bahrain Merida Brave Combat Federation

“Be it swimming, cycling or any other event you can think of, I think it’s great to train with PowerUp. I particularly love the training tips and interviews with coaches. So I would say grab a copy and get inspired”

- Bryan Thomas “Being a triathlete myself, I think it is great how PowerUp gives a lot of media coverage to many events in Bahrain.

Its great to see your picture up when you’ve finished the race. Thanks PowerUp for a fantastic read”

- Angela Aguilo

Dr. Shaikh Saqer Al Khalifa Red Bull Media House GmbH HR and Finance

Dushan Kanchana

Sales Manager

Kasun Garaka Hettiarachchi

“PowerUp Magazine is everywhere you look. It’s incredible how they are there at every sporting event in Bahrain. For any minute by minute update, PowerUp is where I would say everyone should look. “

Karyl Pinto

- Emiliano Herrera

Admin & Sales Coordinator Layout Design

Carol Almadrones

Photography

Bench Medina

Videographer

Walter Borja Arts

DESIGN YOUR LIFE The first Bahrain based sports, health and fitness magazine. Our goal is to promote the sports culture and inspire our readers in the Arabian Gulf to take charge, be fit, and stay in shape for life.

PowerUp is an influential source of useful and entertaining content dedicated to sports, health, and wellness. Addressed to an audience of health-conscious readers in the GCC region.

Editor’s Note: Send us your thoughts, comments, critiques, and requests via editorial@powerup-mag.com. You can also take a picture of yourself with your PowerUp magazine and tell us of your own experience. We will select letters and pictures to print monthly.

www.powerup-mag.com PowerUp Sports WLL Call us for editorial enquiries, rate cards, and event coverage.

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Published by PowerUp Sports WLL. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. All Rights Reserved. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Printed by Al Ayam Publishing B.S.C.

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POWERUP | APRIL 2018

You can browse our current and past issues online through your mobile devices. Just download issuu app on Google Play for Adroid devices or App Store if you have apple devices.

You may also visit www.issuu.com/powerupmagazine www.powerup-mag.com

FROM THE EDITOR

WHAT’S INSIDE...

BLAST

Bahrain has become the host of a never-ending list of sports on both international and national levels. It doesn’t matter if you’re an amateur or a professional; there are events that are of different sizes, capabilities and for all age groups. How much better can Bahrain get in providing people with endless possibilities in living a healthy lifestyle?

FROM THE PAST

The year 2018 will see athletes defying gravity as Bahrain hosts its first ever Indoor Skydiving World Cup to take place in the Middle East and the biggest competition Gravity has ever organised in collaboration with the Bahrain Air Sports Federation. The most advanced indoor skydiving athletes from around the world, each representing their country to compete in several disciplines will gather in the Island. It is going to be a spectacular event.

The global spotlight is ready to shine on Bahrain International Circuit this April. The 2018 FIA Formula 1 World Championship is set to be an epic season. Root for your favourite drivers as PowerUp gives you a preview of 2017 and each driver standings. Get into the world of motorsports as the racing season is on.

Plogging has raided the fitness world as this Swedish fad is soon to hit Bahrain. Want to be part of a cleaner, litter-free Bahrain? Well, simply do it by jogging. Flip through the pages to see how you can be a part of this amazingly clean and mean fitness workout.

Hamza Kooheji made news with his remarkable results but better yet meet the man training the celebrity, Abdullah Isa Al Doy. His desire to excel in taekwondo took him to heights as he became a commissioner at the US Taekwondo Martial Arts Board, a national coach and international umpire. Get first-hand advice from the pro coach.

So you have been working out and you feel that if you go beyond a certain extent you just might injure yourself. Meet Daniel Hohls, a physiotherapist and a triathlete who will tell you exactly what you need to know and how to stay fit and injury free during your workouts.

If you are deciding to take a vacation then feature Zurich then head on straight to our travel section as we have the perfect holiday spot for you. Zurich is on the top of the list for a perfect blend of relaxation and fitness to keep you happy throughout your holidays.

This edition has everything you need to know about making a fun smoothie to a nutritious elegant dinner when company arrives. Every racing person has the appropriate gears when he is on the track but if you are new then check out our list of essential gears that can get you started.

There is that and much more so go on and get your very own PowerUp April edition right away.

Editor-in-Chief PowerUp Magazine

Get in touch @PowerUpMag

@PowerUpMag

facebook.com/powerupmagazine

POWERUP | APRIL 2018

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CONTENTS

56

64

59

80

SPORTS

Warming Up for WCIS 2018

14

New World Record

16

Sparring In Style

H E A LT H

20

Ridiculously Fun

59

Choose Right and Stay Healthy

22

Train Smart, Not Hard

60

Mexican Culinary Quest

24

Handball Tricks and Moves

62

Relax, Reflect and Rejuvenate

26

Channel Your Inner Athlete

64

Take Your Fitness To New Heights

28

Daily Drills Every Basketball Player Must Do

66

Celebrating Tennis Clinic Day

67

No Excuses Just Workout

32

The Shark Pedals To Win The Title

70

Tips From The Expert

34

Making Triathlon History

71

Nutty Bliss

Feel The Thrill, It’s Race Time

56

RevUp: Hello RB14

36

Mini Olympians Raise The Torch

72

Think, Feel, Eat & Exercise

38

New Era In Sports

40

Fighting It Out

FA S H I O N

42

Women Power Summit

75

Redefining Style

76

Wear The New You

78

Motor Mania Gears

44

Laze Away In The Land of Chocolate & Cheese

46

Let’s Go Golfing

80

Helmets: Check!

48

Let The Fun Begin

82

Test Your Driving Skills

POWERUPI | APRIL 2018

ON THE COVER

APRIL Y E A R 2018-IS SU E 3 4

www.powerup-mag.com

F1 IS GO! This year is F1’s first-ever tripleheader with 21 races New designs and team line that will surprise you

UAE DHS20

12

50

RIDICULOUSLY

Qatar QR20

Calendar of Events

FUN!

Oman RO2

10

Kuwait KD1.75

Sports News

KSA SR20

08

Bahrain BD2

APRIL 2018 ISSUE 6

40

12

Heard of Boosaball or Dunny Derby?

Try out these new sports that are quite hilarious

OFFICIALLY AMAZING! Bahrain breaks the record for the longest play futsal tournament

TAKING FITNESS TO NEW HEIGHTS Scale the mountains and get into shape with these exciting altitude training programs

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L AT E S T U P D AT E S

SPORTS NEWS POWERUP GIVES YOU THE LATEST SPORTING EVENT COVERAGE AND MILESTONES IN THE REGION AND WORLDWIDE. BE UP TO DATE ON YOUR FAVOURITE SPORT, VISIT OUR WEBSITE POWERUP-MAG.COM FOR MORE!

SPIRIT OF SPORTSMANSHIP AND CAMARADERIE BOOSTS ATHLETES

“I am building a fire, and everyday I train, I add more fuel.

At just the right moment, I light the match.”

MIA HAMM Mariel Margaret Hamm-Garciaparra is an American retired professional soccer player, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and twotime FIFA Women’s World Cup champion

“Obstacles don’t have to stop you.

If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”

MICHAEL JORDAN American retired professional basketball player who is currently the principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association

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POWERUP | APRIL 2018

INDIAN SCHOOL IS MINI OLYMPICS CHAMPIONS The Indian School and New Indian School shared glory in the intermediate boy’s stage, while St Christopher’s School dominated the secondary stage in athletics events. The Mini Olympics is brought up for the fifth successive year by the Bahrain Olympic Committee in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, with over 3,500 students from 58 government and private schools competing in a record 20 sports this year.

BAHRAIN SETS FUTSAL RECORD The Kingdom of Bahrain has successfully completed one of its most significant sporting challenges by setting the Guinness World Record for the longest play futsal tournament.

The event, which featured

On the first day of athletics, 474 students from various schools from around Bahrain competed in a variety of contests at the Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town. In the intermediate stage, which featured long jump, high jump, 600m, 150m and 1,200m races, the Indian School and New Indian School took two gold medals each.

The secondary stage saw St Christopher’s School stamp authority, taking home six medals in total (3 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze).

continuous football matches at the Bahrain Sports Federation for People with Disabilities Hall in Riffa, was played over 23 hours, 45 minutes and 8 seconds. It was patronized

by His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who delegated His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa to attend the closing ceremony. HH Shaikh Khalid, the First Deputy Chairman

Athletes and fans bring down the final curtain on three days of sporting excellence, inclusion, funand friendship in Abu Dhabi. After countless displays of heroics, sporting excellence and incredible achievements by individual athletes and teams, the Special Olympics IX MENA Games 2018 came to its thrilling, fun-packed end.

The three-day Abu Dhabi Games were filled with wonderful moments that will live on in the memories of the athletes, their families and spectators forever.

The last day of competition saw two divisional men’s basketball finals, with the UAE facing off against the KSA and Egypt taking to the court to play Chinese Taipei.

Each of the four teams, which were made up of athletes with determination alongside able-bodied colleagues, gave their all in two exciting and end to end games. of the Supreme Council of Youth and Sports, and Bahrain Athletics Association president was present to collect the prestigious certificate from Guinness World Record representative Ahmad Jamal Jaber, in presence of BOC general secretary Abdulrahman Askar and BOC board members.

L AT E S T U P D AT E S

BOZZONE RACES INTO IRONMAN HISTORY AT 70.3 CAMPECHE In an unparalleled display of endurance, grit, and sheer talent, Terenzo Bozzone

took top honours at IRONMAN 70.3 Campeche to record his third consecutive win in as many weeks. This makes him the first athlete ever to win three races back-to-back. Bozzone emerged out of the water 20 seconds behind the swim leader, but his strong bike legs took him to the front early and kept him there. On the final third of the cycle course, he put on a surge his competitors could not respond to, taking him into the half marathon more than two minutes ahead of his nearest challenger, Michael Weiss. While Weiss was able to claw back a minute of that lead, Bozzone crossed the finish first with plenty of time to celebrate.

BOWLING HEROES RETURN Members of Bahrain’s national bowling team had a special welcome on return from Muscat after winning seven gold medals at the Arab Men’s and the fourth Arab Women’s Bowling Championships at Al Seeb Bowling Centre. The Bahraini players hogged the limelight as they clinched two gold, one silver and four bronze in this week-long competition. Ahead of the

championships, Bahrain women were the overwhelming favourite and they did not disappoint. Bahrain’s Noora Sultan bowled her highest game to a goldwinning total, while teammate and title contender, Nadia al Awadhi, a former Arab and GCC gold-medallist, had to be content with a bronze medal after she was edged to the silver by Egypt’s Sara Gamal.

SPECIAL WELCOME FOR BAHRAINI ATHLETES Bahrain’s athletics team for people with disabilities were given a warm welcome on return from the UAE where they competed at the 10th Fazza International Para Athletics Championships.

The Nationals put on an impressive show and took seven medals in total, including two gold, one silver and four bronze, during the event. The team also made remarkable results at the Sharjah International Championship held recently, where they clinched eight medals (4 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze). Supreme Council for Youth and Sports assistant general secretary and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) general secretary Abdulrahman Askar noted the outstanding performance of the team and the results achieved in both championships, which underlined the developed level of Bahrain athletes in recent years.

BAHRAIN TO JOIN ARAB E-GAMES FEDERATION Representatives of the Arab Federation for e-Games met with Supreme Council for Youth and Sports assistant general secretary and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) general secretary Abdulrahman Askar and discussed ways of Bahrain joining the federation, and later become a member of the Asian and International Federations. Askar commended the efforts of the Arab Federation in promoting and expanding e-games in the region and stressed the BOC keenness to be involved in the

INTEX LIONS CLAIMS BPL TITLE

federation programmes. Both sides had talks on the mechanism of activating the committee to promote e-games in the Kingdom. Meanwhile, the BOC general secretary had a meeting with Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Ali Sharafi and Bahrain Mind Sports Federation president Ali Shuwaiter and vice-president Hameed Rahma, to form an e-games committee under its umbrella.

Playing hard Tahir Dar with support from Prashanth Kurupp drove the Intex Lions to a victory over Awan Warriors to win the Coco-Cola Bahrain Premier League (BPL) T20 title at the Isa Town Cricket Ground.

Intex Lions won the match with 5 wickets in hand scoring 142 runs. Tahir struck three sixes and five boundaries in his blistering 44-ball 74 in Isa Town Cricket Ground well supported at the other end by Prashanth Kurupp with a solid knock of 50 of 54 balls.

BPL is the first-ever franchise-based T20 league to be held in Bahrain. It was held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa and KHK Sports and sponsored by Exelon.

POWERUP | APRIL 2018

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W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G

EVENTS CALENDAR APRIL 2018 POWERUP KEEPS YOU UPDATED ON THE LATEST SPORTING EVENTS IN THE REGION AND WORLDWIDE. PLUG INTO THE THRILLING EVENTS HAPPENING AROUND YOU AND BE ENTERTAINED! HEAD ON TO POWER-MAG.COM FOR MORE COMPREHENSIVE LISTINGS AND BOOKINGS.

01 APRIL

1ST BAHRAIN BABY GAMES ISA SPORTS COMPLEX

This event will feature five different sports – athletics, gymnastics, football, basketball and weightlifting, and targets 2 to 4 years children in an attempt to create an awareness among youngsters to practice sports exercises and promote the Olympic principles and values at a young age.

Age: 2-4 years of age

03 APRIL

BAHRAIN DHL ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE FUNLAND CENTRE - BOWLING & ICE SKATING, MANAMA

The DHL Ice Hockey League takes place from January to April, with a total of four teams vying for the DHL Ice Hockey Title 2018. It is the playoffs.

06 APRIL

BAHRAIN TOWER RUNNING RACE THE UNITED TOWER, BAHRAIN BAY

This is a one of-its-kind event in the GCC region. Entrants will start at the base of the tower and make their way up to the finish line located on the 50th floor. The challenging route consists of a total of 1050 steps as runners will have to make their way up to the top of the 200m tower. The event is open to people of all abilities who have undergone an intensive training prior to the race.

06 APRIL

THE 2018 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT, SAKHIR

“The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East” will be front and centre once again on the international stage, with the Formula 1 2018 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix grabbing the global spotlight from April 6 to 8. The Sakhir event will mark the second of 21 rounds on the 2018 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, following the season-opening meeting in Australia.

20 APRIL

SPINATHON - PEDAL FOR A PURPOSE SEEF MALL

The Spinathon organised by Dessange is an energetic event, where the public can enjoy cycling, step and dance classes. To add to the fun, there will be competitions for individuals and teams and a run for adults and children. In addition to those activities, there is play space for kids. All proceeds raised are donated to the Children’s Ward of the Bahrain Cancer Society

20

SPRINT TRIATHLON 3 SOFITEL RESORT IN ZALLAQ

APRIL

Bahrain Triathlon League is an event that consists of 8 races with 2 Sprint Duathlons, 2 Olympic Triathlons, 3 Sprint Triathlons and 1 Sprint Aquathlon.

Time: 7 AM Distance: • 750m swim • 20km bike • 5km run

03 20 APRIL

OPEN TRACK BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT

If you have ever dreamed of being a champion racing driver, then this could be the event for you. The Open Track experience offers a thrilling trackside experience for all drivers.

27 APRIL

CLIO CUP EXPERIENCE BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT

If you’ve ever fancied getting behind the wheel of a heart racing, turbo boosted sports car, then the Renault Clio is an excellent opportunity to take a step into the world of motorsports.

Time: 8 AM

30 APRIL

EBRAHIM K. KANOO DRAG & DRIFT NIGHTS

POWERUP | APRIL 2018

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BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT Choose between two of the most popular and exciting forms of motorsport today – drag racing and drifting – and then show off your skills! Can’t decide? Then compete in both! This exciting doubleheader, sponsored by Ebrahim K Kanoo and powered by Motor City, is open to the public. Drivers take part in their own car or motorbike, where they can push the limits and be in for a surprise!

Time: 6 AM

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INDOOR SKYDIVING

WARMING

UP

FOR WCIS 2018 Indoor Skydiving is the incredible sport that allows you to let go, float, roll, twist and turn upside down in the winds! Sounds like fun? It sure is! But what makes it a sport? s you take steps towards one of the tallest glass wind tunnels in the world at Gravity Indoor Skydiving, you are evoked with the feeling of adventure and excitement. Watching the instructors perform dynamic movements in the high-speed airflow provokes feelings of freedom!

A

FLYING The art of flying also known as body flight, enables skydivers and flyers to manoeuvre and perform advanced techniques by controlling their bodies in the wind, whether in the sky or in a vertical wind tunnel.

The sport of tunnel flying is relatively new and, though it is a niche sport, has quickly gained popularity around the world. It has evolved to encompass a variety of disciplines that are particular to different techniques and

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POWERUP | APRIL 2018

styles of flying, making way for many tunnel competitions to take place around the world, including Bahrain!

THIRD FAI WORLD CUP Gravity Indoor Skydiving, the host of the 3rd FAI World Cup of Indoor Skydiving 2018 in the name of the Kingdom of Bahrain, is in preparation to organise Bahrain’s biggest competition ever in collaboration with the Bahrain Air Sports Federation.

This competition will gather the most advanced indoor skydiving athletes from around the world, each representing their country to compete in several disciplines and take home cash prizes totalling $200,000!

and mental strain. Its dynamic nature requires its players to have specific skills such as synchronisation and flexibility for performance, just like those seen in figure skating or gymnastics; all of which require regular training, time, effort and financial support.

Most importantly, what makes this sport unique is the immense passion that its players have for it; the love for flying!

of the sport on a regional and global scale. Who knows, you could be seeing tunnel flying at the Olympics someday!

For more information: www.gravitybah.com

SAVE THE DATE

INDOOR SKYDIVING

The 3rd FAI World Cup of Indoor Skydiving 2018 will be held from October 25-28 and will be the first Indoor Skydiving World Cup ever to be hosted in the MiddleEast and the biggest flying competition Bahrain and Gravity has ever organised.

Like other sporting activities, indoor skydiving is heavily competitive, with its players carrying physical

This will pave the way for worldwide goals to continue elevating, promoting and supporting the development

BAHRAIN TEAM 2-WAY DYNAMIC TEAM

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SPORTS

NOERW LD W D R O C E R

Be it in any field, Bahrain is quite famous for taking things to the next level. Bahrain does it again by setting the Guinness World Record for the longest play futsal tournament. rom the world’s largest flag, biggest awareness lecture on diabetes to flower planting, Bahrain takes everything up a notch. What better way to encourage people to take up a sporty lifestyle through one of the most significant sporting challenges.

F

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS A continuous football match was held at the Bahrain Sports Federation for People with Disabilities Hall in Riffa. For the record, the match was played over 23 hours, 45 minutes and 8 seconds. It was incredible to see more than 235 players, making up 18 teams, gearing up to set the record in a very short time period. Though this was a big challenge, the Island pulled it off.

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POWERUP | APRIL 2018

S SP PO OR RT TS S

FUTSAL Futsal is the only form of indoor soccer endorsed by FIFA. It was recognised as a scaled down version of outdoor soccer played indoors.

It is a five versus five small-sided game played on a hard surfaced, basketball-sized court with a smaller, heavier low bounce ball. Futsal is played with touchline boundaries and without walls. This is the game that outdoor soccer players around the globe play to refine and maintain their control skills and touch. It is superior to walled soccer in terms of developing better skills and technique.

BROKE THE RECORD

SCORE The Isa Town team was honoured for winning the tournament after a 13-2 win over Budaiya team in the final match. His Highness Shaikh Khalid presented special awards to the referees of all the matches.

Bahrain Football Association president Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa said the Bahrain Futsal Tournament played continuously for 24 hours promotes Bahrain sports and its achievements at all levels. He noted that Bahrain setting a Guinness World Record through sports for the first time ever emphasizes the significant support offered by the country’s leadership to the sport.

SPORT

Futsal DATE

31 March TIME

23 h, 45 min, 8 sec TEAMS

18 PLAYERS

235 YEAR

2018 POWERUP | APRIL 2018

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INTERVIEW

SPARRING IN STYLE Meet the young lady who is making news by grabbing the taekwondo world by storm.

Bahrain’s pride Fajar Al-BinAli has achieved many accolades and shows no sign of stopping. Here’s why she took up the sport and how she maintains her winning streak. eing a martial art, taekwondo is built on tenets which are courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit. With the focus of every session being around those tenets, repeated exposure to their applicatory importance from a very early age has shaped me into a stronger athlete and individual; both mentally and physically, in addition to reinforcing within me the values of good citizenship.

B

HOW IT ALL STARTED Fajar started taekwondo at the age of 11 at the first Bahrain Taekwondo School, and received training from Grandmaster Ghassan Shaikho (8th Dan), who is the founder of the school.

At the time she earned her first poom (junior black belt) in taekwondo, the formation of National Taekwondo Teams locally has not matured in the sense of the presence of a dedicated national team coach and training venue. Hence, she continued harnessing her skills in

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Taekwondo throughout her school years at a local club where she participated in multiple internal and interschool Kyrugi (sparring), Poomsae (forms), and Breaking competitions.

In her final high school year, Fajar was granted the Crown Prince International Scholarship to pursue an undergraduate degree in Economics at the London School of Economics, and still continued practising Taekwondo in London until she completed her studies.

Upon returning to Bahrain, she re-joined her hometown Dojang through and entered into the National Sports Talent Identification Program.

With Fajar’s skills, she was selected to become a member of the Bahrain National Kyrugi Team. One year later following a promotion to 5th Dan (senior black belt), she became a member of the National Poomsae Team; both under the tutelage of Bahrain Martial Arts Federation Technical Director Grandmaster Tawfiq Nwaisr (8th Dan).

INTERVIEW

STEPPING INTO TAEKWONDO

“

I WOULD LIKE TO PROVE TO MYSELF THAT WHAT IS OUT OF REACH TODAY CAN BE, WITH THE GRACE OF GOD, WITHIN MY HANDS TOMORROW IF A RIGHT TECHNICAL PLAN AND SUPPORT MECHANISM IS PUT IN PLACE AND FOLLOWED.

Being influenced by martial arts movies from a very early age, Fajar found herself in the Dojang from the very first day. According to her, “I have enjoyed every minute of my first session, and it was all the more motivating for me to see how advanced practitioners were able to perform stunts seen in movies and generate incredible force with various techniques. It was a lot of suspense and excitement for me at the beginning, and about having a fun physical activity with which I can balance my school demands. “ As she advanced through the ranks her appreciation for taekwondo increased beyond these realms. She was able to see through the guidance of her instructor all the other benefits of taekwondo.

First as an art and then as a competitive sport.

BENEFITS There are a multitude of health, behavioural and social benefits and skills promoted by taekwondo. In parallel, as a competitive sport,

taekwondo is unique even within the martial arts realm for being one which requires the practitioner to possess the ultimate combination of aerobic and anaerobic fitness, strength, flexibility, fight spirit, and strategic thinking.

It is also a multi-discipline competitive sport which one can practice and compete in at the highest international levels. There are relatively wide age ranges and sufficient safety measures compared to other similar sports in Taekwondo.

COMPETITION PREPARATION The preparation starts way before and by the time the competition has come there is very little that can be done which can make a difference, except for the mental aspect.

For that, it is important that one knows and does the thing which puts them in a sharp, positive mental state in addition to avoiding as much as possible sources of distraction. It is also helpful if possible, sometimes it may not be, to accurately estimate the timing of the competition in order to properly time the food intake and warm up.

POWERUP | APRIL 20188

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“

INTERVIEW

TRAINING ROUTINE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The training routine differs throughout the athlete’s participation cycle. Off season training focuses more on strength and conditioning for maintenance and repair of muscles as well as fortification of the physical base wherein higher technical skills are developed. On the build, up to competitions the training intensifies in terms of frequency and becomes more technique and situation specific.

The purpose is to engage the nervous system, prepare the body and mind to adapt to competition scenarios, and to cool down from the preluding strength and conditioning regimen for purposes of speed and flexibility enhancement. The right nutrition is essential throughout the whole cycle and plays an equal part as the actual training itself in terms of physical and mental development. Essential vitamins and minerals should be monitored and kept within the recommended ranges in accordance with the instruction and advise of a nutritional specialist.

FOCUSING ON GOALS Being an achiever and an athlete, Fajar always keep her focus on her goals, “I like to take things one step at a time and to focus on my own technical development as a goal as opposed to anything else because this is what ultimately attracts good results. There is always a margin for improvement and striving to achieve this margin is what keeps it exciting. I would like to prove to myself that what is out of reach today can be, with the grace of God,

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YEAR 2018 Bronze Medal at U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP (Las Vegas, USA) Gold Medal at TURKISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP (Istanbul, Turkey)

YEAR 2017 Bronze Medal at CHUNCHEON OPEN TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIP (Chuncheon, Korea) within my hands tomorrow if a right technical plan and support mechanism is put in place and followed. I have had much support provided by my employers, BNP Paribas, over the last two years during which I have earned my highest accomplishments to date. The technical and administrative support from the Bahrain Martial Arts Federation and the Bahrain Olympic Committee has been important in enabling me to be where I am today.” Looking ahead, with a solid technical base already in place, what is lacking is finding the required financial support mechanism in parallel remains a crucial missing element to continue representing her country in competitions abroad and collect further world ranking points to top the official tables.

TAKE UP THE SPORT “Get into taekwondo at an early age if you aspire

to compete at the highest international standards,” Fajar advised when asked about the right time to take up the sport.

“You can benefit from moulding your bodies early on into the desired physique for the sport as well as enjoy the privilege of competing in varying age categories throughout your athletic tenure. When it comes to training, I would stress the importance of getting the basics right to avoid falling into the trap of honing suboptimal techniques over time. It is also important to have solid basics from the beginning as it takes a lot of effort and time to correct long-engrained improper body dynamics. When the basics are right, rapid progress is a natural outcome given consistency in following a suitably tailored training regimen designed to work on the specific needs of the athlete.”

Gold Medal at the 1ST WTF AFRICAN PRESIDENT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP (Agadir, Morocco) Double Gold at CLASS A&B COMPETITIONS OF JEONJU OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP (Jeonju, Korea) Silver Medal at RUSSIA OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP (Moscow, Russia) Silver Medal at PANAM WORLD TAEKWONDO PRESIDENT ’S CUP CHAMPIONSHIP (Las Vegas, USA)

YEAR 2015 Gold Medal at the 4TH GCC WOMEN’S SPORTS GAMES (Muscat, Oman)

YEAR 2014 Double Gold at the 5TH MEN’S KYRUGI AND 1ST POOMSAE and L ADIES KYRUGI GCC TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIP (Isa Town, Bahrain)

YEAR 2013 Bronze Medal at the 3RD ISLAMIC SOLIDARITY GAMES (Palembang, Indonesia) Gold Medal at the 3RD GCC WOMEN’S SPORTS GAMES (Isa Town, Bahrain)

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SPORTS

RIDICULOUSLY FUN Can you name all the sports that exist today? With every passing year, fun and hilarious sports are created to get everyone to step out and stay active this season. Here are a few sports that you probably aren’t quite familiar with but you can always try them out.

BANDY It is quite similar to the game of Ice hockey. Sweden’s winter sports Bandy is generating so much buzz since some people want it to be an Olympic sport.

Played with eight to 11 players on each team, it takes elements of ice hockey and soccer, puts them together with an added twist, and becomes one of the most fun sports anyone can watch or play.

BOOSABALL Bossaball isn’t the greatest sport ever created and it is one game that will challenge you.

This game is one that you have to see to believe. You need great flexibility and skills with a good trampoline because that is where you will be playing.

Who said only kids could have fun?

SEPAK TAKRAW Make you sure you do a lot of stretching before you head out to play this game or else you would end up pulling a few muscles. The sport features elements of volleyball, soccer and gymnastics. Sepak Takraw is played between two teams of three players. They use their feet, knee, chest and head to pass the balls back and forth, scoring when a ball hits the ground. It’s fast and intense maybe played indoors or outdoors like at the beach.

FOOTGOLF The game is played exactly how it’s named. Using soccer balls instead of golf balls and clubs, players use their feet to play Footgolf on specially designed courses. Footgolf is a precision sport, in which players kick a soccer ball into a cup in as few shots as possible. If you feel you can’t do football then this game might be for you.

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SPORTS

PEA SHOOTING It’s a sport for everyone. Did you know that there is actually a sport much like archery, using a bulls-eye for players to take aim at? But instead of bows and arrows, players use peas to accumulate points.

JAI-ALAI Arguably the fastest sport in the world, it requires a lot of strength and endurance, and players use a cesta, a long, curved wicker scoop strapped to one arm to sling a hard rubber ball around a three-walled court. It is an incredible sport to watch and play as well. Give it a try.

SKIJORING What would you get if you combine horse racing with skiing? You get Skijoring. This is one of the most demanding winter sporting events and a popular tradition in this Polish mountain region. The challenge is to remain upright on your skies behind the horse. This equestrian winter sport might seem unusual, but actually, skijor-ers can be found across North America and Europe. Some racetracks have tricky jumps, obstacles and turns, with participants reaching speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.

BUBBLE SOCCER DUNNY DERBY Like to sit on a throne? Here’s your chance. Someone might have thought about it because Dunny Derby involves one person sitting on the 'throne' while two runners 'pushing', two runners 'pulling' the Dunny. The race is run over 200 meters with a few 'obstacles' It is held every second year in Australia.

Talk about a fun sport that you should actually think of considering.

If you have seen the videos you would see how bubble soccer gets everyone excited. Bubble soccer runs the same lines as traditional five-a-side football, but with one rather large difference: every player is immersed in a giant inflatable ball.

Its pretty fun to see people bumping into each other and rolling around in a bubble.

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INTERVIEW

TRAIN SMART, NOT HARD Father by day and professional taekwondo artist by night, meet the man who trained Hamza Kooheji and coaches at the Al Doy Olympic Centre team Abdullah Isa Al Doy. If you are an ardent fan of taekwondo get ready to be inspired! assionate about taekwondo, Abdullah Isa Al Doy always believed in taekwondo and pursued his passion. His desire to excel in the sport took him to heights as he became a commissioner at the US Taekwondo Martial Arts Board, a national coach and in international umpire. A family man by day but a dedicated coach to many here’s his story on what it takes to live the sport.

P

JOURNEY INTO TAEKWONDO Al Doy‘s passion for taekwondo became a reality.

“It all began with my interest in Japanese martial arts, BudoKan-Karate, at the tender of age of nine. One of the reasons I was drawn to the full contact sparring nature of the game was the fact that I had a short stature. I was slim in comparison to the other kids and it gave others an opportunity to bully me or push me around. They

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underestimated me due to my appearance but I was a strong kid who always retaliated.

Bruce Lee movies were always on my movie list back in the 70s as I loved the things he used to do. When I was in the naval college, I met a guy who was into martial arts and he told me that he would show me some moves and the more he explained and showed me, the more I was fascinated by this sport.”

The Asian Taekwondo Championship between Iran and Korea was what inspired Al Doy to actually take up the sport. To this day he says, “I keep watching it as the game did not restrict movements but rather you could just let it out. “ Everyone of us have someone who inspires us.

For Aldoy, “ Ali Hajipour was the taekwondo athlete who I looked up to and it was more thrilling to meet my idol and draw inspiration from him. My passion for taekwondo drove me all the way and I gradually became a national coach and an international umpire.”

ASSESSING ATHLETES Before Al Doy starts training athletes he assess their personalities first. “Initially, when a person walks in and wants to be trained, I start them off at zero level. No matter how skilled they are or if they have had pre-training, at the start I would make sure not to injure the person through the workouts. Joint mobility exercises will be done initially and then I push and check how they are doing. I will monitor their breathing, how they run and their steps basically to check their basic fundamentals of sports.

Gradually we will cover side and front splits and warm up.”

MENTAL WORKOUT Taekwondo involves a tremendous amount of mental workout. “We have mental strengthening workout sessions. We focus on visualisation and breathing exercises and not just kicking or fighting. Meditation is another element. In terms of visualisation, we ask our students to visualise a person

and imitate the same powerful moves as they do. We have a technique we call as self-talk where if you are in the ring and commit an error, say your feet did something it shouldn’t have then you tap your leg and say ‘stop it, don’t do that.’

Even though the scoreboard shows the results, we train the players to visualise where they went wrong and keep a tally of the mistakes so as to not repeat it. So the player is taught to maintain a winning streak and reduce the gap of the scores to catch up to his opponent. Some people shout or tap when they are wrong.”

TRAINING THE PROS Hamza Kooheji is a boxer who is well known for his epic grappling skills. Al Doy trained him in improving his lower leg after he was knocked out in Jordan. “My main goal with Hamza was to surprise his opponents and distract their thinking process. Opponents use your weakness against you and try to take a shot. When you surprise your opponent and he gets distracted and thinks about the next move, he

I N T E CR YV CI ELWI N G

tends to lose his focus. In this gap, you make your move. So I worked with Hamza on this aspect.”

One of the most important connection between Al Doy and Hamza before BRAVE 1 was that for every fight he lost he would have to give double make up for it. So he focus his training on Hamza on the positive for him to think about winning and not think about losing. For Al Doy, mental

strength is important and that is where they concentrate on the training.

“When professionals come to train they already have an understanding and tell us they know grappling skills or taekwondo and so on. The basic thing is to start from scratch and learn everything.

If you do not then you limit yourself to all aspects of being a good fighter. I train my students to be prepared both

accommodate understanding and be more accepting of things around the world. It all boils down to independence, strength and strategy.”

NON- WARMING UP FLEXIBILITY According to Al Doy, “You do not always get a chance to warm up before you make those moves. For example, if someone attacks you while you are walking down the road you wouldn’t have time to prepare rather you would have to respond at the given moment. Initially, we start doing the warmup exercises and gradually reduce it and bring it down to none of it. We reduce it slowly and sometimes in the advanced level we do the mobility exercise just for safety and then continue. This is a technique that I developed. sessions according to what suits them the best.”

to host International training camps, competitions and so on. We will have more courts, more sessions, better and improved exclusive facilities to give the utmost quality training for both our amateur and professional people. Take up taekwondo, try it and I guarantee you will love it. The benefits that you experience will be life-changing.”

FAMILY TIME “My children have also followed in my footsteps by taking up this sport. My son Isa started training when he was just two and a half.

My daughter Reem has taken a career in sports as well because she holds that passion. She is also involved in volleyball, she loves teaching and its great to see my children sharing this love for sports just like me.”

STAGES OF BELTS, THEY GO IN THIS COLOUR ORDER

INNOVATION

“

physically and mentally.”

TAKE UP TAEKWONDO, TRY IT AND I GUARANTEE YOU WILL LOVE IT. THE BENEFITS THAT YOU EXPERIENCE WILL BE LIFE-CHANGING.

POWERFUL TOOL There are reasons why Al Doy decided to inculcate the sports culture in children from a very young age. He believes sports is a powerful tool to imbibe certain values into people through a different approach. He elaborated, “First, it teaches them independence. Secondly, it teaches them to be a little more open, loving and respectful to the people around them. Sports makes a big difference and enables people to be better human beings. This is especially true when it comes to working with kids because at that age they look up to you. It can change their behaviour and

It is important to Al Doy, that any training done must be creative, innovative and must keep the students wanting for more. It is essential that they know, that they only have good intention for them and gain their trust. Routines or workouts that are very repetitive tends to become boring and people lose interest pretty fast. He advised to keep changing routines to achieve progress. “Feeling happy while exercising is important to improve your skills.”

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS CENTRE Al Doy have big plans for the future,“We want to step up and bring in more facilities for our students so that they can get the best training. I want to promote taekwondo in a big way in Bahrain and build up this sport. We want to be able

White Yellow Orange Green Purple Blue Brown Red

Each colour represents a certain phase in a student’s developing skills, with the black belt having 10 degrees.

Black

BENEFITS Self Confidence Enhanced Physicality Sharpened Mentality Self Discipline Social Interaction Cooperation

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“

HANDBALL

HANDBALL TRICKS AND MOVES Ever tried a combination of football, basketball and polo? It is one of the most fascinating games played throughout five continents by 19 million people. Check out these simple handball exercises to keep you fit.

TRAINING FOR SPRINTS For 10 minutes, run on the treadmill at the fastest pace you can maintain. After that walk for two to four minutes, or until you get your wind back, and repeat. Work up to three 10-minute sprints. Running sprints builds muscle strength and increases cardiovascular endurance.

MUSCULAR TRAINING Lunges are done by standing with your arms at your side or on your hips. Step forward with your left leg and lower your body, flexing at the knee and hip, until your back knee is almost touching the floor.

Return to the starting position. Repeat with the right leg. Do three sets of 15 repetitions on each leg.

BALL COORDINATION Ball drops work hand speed, but you need a partner for this exercise. Have your partner hold a ball in each hand, and stand in front of him.

Have him drop a ball without giving you any notice. You have to catch the ball before it hits the floor.

STRETCH AND FLEX Stretching is important in any exercise program.

The hamstring stretch is good for the lower body and is done by bending at the waist, trying to touch the floor with your hands. Hold the stretch for 20 seconds, and then slowly return to the starting position.

i GETTY IMAGES

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It is not common in the sports world at least, but handball was originally a sport only played by women.

FITNESS

CHANNEL YOUR INNER STRENGTH Take your workout routine to the next level with these incredible fitness trends. These are not just exercises, it’s a lifestyle!

BOUTIQUE BOXING

FUNCTIONAL TRAINING 2.0

Boxing is the workout routine of the year. You need to vent out the stress that you carry from a busy day at work. Boxing is one way you can channel all that energy and get in shape at the same time. Boxing studios make you feel like your training as an actual boxer. So hit the ring for an exciting, engaging and fun workout session.

As you go about with your day, you will find yourself either pushing, pulling, lifting, bending or twisting to get things done. To live an injury-free active life, you need exercise to be able to do everything and here is where functional training comes in. This will help to strengthen your core muscles like your abdomen and back.

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FITNESS

REVIVED-UP RECOVERY

HOT OR COLD?

You train hard and strong with highintensity workouts seven days a week.

Another workout routine would be for you to take it slow with less extreme workouts.

One is the exercise itself and the second part is the recovery process. So its time to take short breaks in between workouts, from exercises, active rest, water breaks and plenty of sleep.

Athletes who train at a high level often take up ice bath sessions. This helps to speed up muscle recovery and reduce inflammation. Post-session, you should experience improved blood flow and less pain overall. Some athletes believe heat will relieve pain and reduce heat.

MINDFUL MOVEMENT It is not only about physical movements, but it is also about focus.

Meditation is also another powerful way. Mindful movement is being given a lot of importance when it comes to strength training. So the next time you decide to do push-ups, take a five minute moment, think, focus and finish the number of push-ups you decide to do.

BREATHING WORK Did you ever think breathing classes were necessary at all?

Well, you’d be surprised when we tell you, yes!

One breathing technique is Valsalva which involves taking a deep breath immediately before lifting and holding that breath while you lift. There will be an increase in pressure which creates a strong foundation for your body and allows it to handle more weight. Before approaching

a max-effort deadlift, for instance, lifters would stand over the bar and prepare for the lift. Right before setting their grip, they would take a deep breath in and hold that air inside the lungs throughout the rep.

EXERCISE IN 3D It is important to be exercising in a dynamic environment which would motivate you. Now, most gyms are going creatively by providing a lively environment. Yoga classes have to be very innovative with sound baths, and spin studios are leveraging virtual reality into their classes.

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SF IPTONRETSSS

DAILY DRILLS EVERY BASKETBALL PLAYER MUST DO! Never walk out of the basketball court without giving your best as an individual or a team. Here is Doug Sibor with some of the basic ball dribbling drills to get you started. What are you waiting for? Grab a basketball and get ready!

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SPORTS

RICOCHET

MIKAN LAYUP DRILL

You need to stand with your legs spread a bit wider than shoulder-width apart with your knees wholly locked, holding the basketball out in front of you. Between your legs, you need to start bouncing the ball at a 45° angle and catch it as it bounces back to you. Then, throw it back through your legs and catch it in front. The more comfortable you get with the motion, increase the speed and try to develop a rhythm. Do this for 30 seconds, then as you get better increase the time.

From the right side of the hoop, take the ball in your right hand, elevate off your left foot, and lay the ball up and in. Before it hits the ground, collect the ball in your left hand, and one continuous motion elevate off your right foot and lay it up and in off the left side of the hoop. Grab the ball before it hits the ground, and go back to the right side, and repeat. Perform the drill without stopping for at least one minute, alternating hands each time.

BEST FOR:

BEST FOR: Eye-Hand coordination

DRIBBLING FIGURE 8

Smooth handling of the ball

Spread your legs apart wide but make sure you can bend your knees and dip down nice and low. Start with the ball in your non-preferred hand and keep it as close to the ground as possible. Maintain a steady dribble and cross the ball to the centre of your body. Once in the middle, dribble the ball back between your legs until the only way you can maintain your dribble is to reach behind with your preferred hand to get the ball. Keep switching the ball to your preferred hand while maintaining your dribble.

Then try and rotate the ball around your leg until you get back to the front. Repeat the same steps before. Perform continuously for at least one minute.

BEST FOR: Ability to dribble the ball in and out of tight spaces to create space for their team

Forwards and Centers as this drill is one of the all-time classics.

WALL PASSES Stand about 10 feet away from the wall; the ball starts off in either hand. You will take a bounce then pass it with one hand off the wall and catch it with your other hand. This will be repeated back and forth.

BEST FOR: Mastering the art of passing

SPRINT/FREE THROWS The sprint from one end of the court to the other and back in the start. Quickly grab your ball, and using good form take five free throws. For each one you miss, you will need to do one down and back sprint.

BEST FOR: Clean form, consistency

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FITNESS

SELF- SHOOTING Take the ball in your hands, position yourself in a good shooting stance with your feet shoulder-width apart and pointing toward your target, bend your knees and “shoot” the ball straight up in the air.

Position your elbows close to your body, follow through with your wrist as the ball leaves your hand. Perform the drill without stopping for at least one minute, and repeat at least five times.

BEST FOR: Improve shooting technique

AROUND THE WORLD

TWO BALL DRIBBLE

Set your feet wide apart a bit and bend your knees slightly. Then, rotate the ball in a circle around your knees as quickly as you can without dropping it. After ten full rotations, change direction for another ten. Repeat the same progression around your waist and then around your head.

Do each one (knees, waist, head) at least five times.

You’ll need two basketballs, one in each hand. Start standing on the baseline, and dribble to half court with each ball hitting the floor at the same time. It’s important to go slowly to start; you need to master the technique before you can add speed. Go down and back three times with the balls hitting the ground at the same time, then switch it up and have one hit the ground as the other is reaching your hand. Perform at least five sets. As you get more comfortable, increase the difficulty by going faster and adding obstacles.

BEST FOR: Improve your own hands Corral a loose ball Maintain the ball under pressure

BEST FOR: Improve comfort level handling the ball

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@ShootSportsCo @ Shoot_Sports @ Shoot_Sports www.ShotSports.net info@Shootsports.net

EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR

CYCLING

THE SHARK PEDALS TO WIN THE TITLE Heavy rains did not stop Vincenzo Nibali from becoming the first Italian victor of Milan-San Remo 2018. ilan - San Remo is one race that gets everyone excited. The build-up was pretty long and initially slow for about seven hours.

Spectators were left with a nail-biting 15 minutes at the end of the race over the Poggio and onto the Via Roma, where Vincenzo Nibali carried off a solo attack as he won the Milan-San Remo. This podium finish adds to his long list of achievements in cycling.

M

“The most difficult moment was the last 2 kilometres: I never turned back and on the radio, the sports director Alberto Volpi was saying ” 10/11 seconds, push, push”.

I only thought about giving everything I had. When had 50 meters to go I looked back and I enjoyed the moment! “says Vincenzo Nibali.

VINCENZO NIBALI Giving an absolute nail bitter of a finale, Nibali was the perfect image of cool as he looked back during the final 50 metres and crossed the finish line in style. The winner of three grand tours, the Giro d’Italia — twice — the Tour de France and the Spanish Vuelta he will add this third monument victory to the list. Ending the 12 years of a gap he becomes the first Italian to triumph at La Primavera since Pippo Pozzato in 2006.

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bettiniphoto.net

C YCCYLCI NL GI N G

An artist of a descender, he cut through the tight corners without fault and carried a lead of eight seconds onto the flat roads in the final two kilometres.

RACE DAY The day saw pouring rain as 175 riders rode in the 109th edition of Milan-San Remo.

It was the longest race on the cycling calendar at 294 kilometres in length excluding the lengthy neutralised section out The vast majority of the race saw strong headwinds but the team was in control despite the weather conditions.

“

I ONLY THOUGHT ABOUT GIVING EVERYTHING I HAD. WHEN I HAD 50 METERS TO GO I LOOKED BACK AND I ENJOYED THE MOMENT!

“

“I arrived at “San Remo” with so much tranquillity, I knew that I had finished the TirrenoAdriatico in growth and I had confidence. You do not win alone and for this, I have to thank all my teammates for the great work. They were fundamental” he said.

Shortly after the start Dennis Van Winden, Guy Sagiv, Matteo Bono, Mirco Maestri, Lorenzo Rota, Evgeny Kobernyak, Charles Planet, Sho Hatsuyama and Jacopo Mosca jump clear to race to a

maximum lead of 7 minutes.

Just before tackling the Poggio Marck Cavendish crashed out. The early slopes saw much action as Marcus Burghardt (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Jean-Pierre Drucker (BMC Racing) went clear for a short while before Latvian champion Krists Neilands (Israel Cycling Academy) launched the biggest attack of the race so far. The person of interest was the man on the wheels, Nibali who followed Neilands’s move for a huge acceleration using it as a launchpad.

WINNING MOMENT The Shark goes alone to crest the summit 12 seconds ahead of the main group.

Nibali’s lead was up to eight seconds by the top of the Poggio with 5.4 kilometres to go and was still the same by the bottom of the descent as the sprinters’ teams moved back to the front to set up a nail-biting final kilometre.

La Gazzetta dello Spor t

Groupama-FDJ and QuickStep Floors peddled it out as they try and set up Arnaud Démare and EliaViviani respectively, while Nibali’s lead was trimmed down second by second with the Italian riding it out in the final kilometre.

Démare, Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott), and Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) launched their sprints behind close to the finish line. Spectators went wild as they saw Nibali, crossing the line with his hands aloft to take an emotional and popular victory, with Ewan taking second just a few metres behind former winner Arnaud Demare comes in third.

Milan-San Remo 2018 Milan to San Remo,

294km 1

Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) TEAM Bahrain Merida, in 7-18-43

2

Caleb Ewan (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott

3

Arnaud Démare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ

4

Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates

5

Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) BMC Racing

6

Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe

7

Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb

8

Magnus Cort (Den) Astana

9

Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) TEAM Bahrain Merida

10

Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo, (all at the same time)

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T R I AT H L O N

MAKING T TRIATHLON HISTORY Excitement filled the air as Abu Dhabi hosted the ITU World Triathlon.

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he race weekend in Abu Dhabi was incredible as people saw record-breaking numbers in the elite field that featured world and olympic champions. The ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi, now in its fourth year, saw over 2,500 participants in the iconic event that also hosted waves for paratriathletes and Special Olympics athletes.

OPENING WAVE Being the most inspiring moments of the weekend, the opening wave saw four Special Olympics athletes taking the start line, alongside Team Angel Wolf to compete in what was another first for WTS Abu Dhabi.

Hundreds of junior triathletes and duathletes also crossed the finish line on Friday morning, as well as youngsters taking part in the mini 1 kilometre, and family

1 kilometre fun run – another first for the event.

ACCESSIBILITY TO PARA-ATHLETES “Triathlon is a unique sport in its abilities to bring people together, irrespective of abilities, age, gender or nationality. We planned this year’s race with a belief that triathlon should be for all - we

ELITE RACE WINNERS HENRI SCHOEMAN Men’s South Africa Elite Sprint Women’s RACHEL KLAMER Netherlands Elite Sprint

SCHOEMAN - Made WTS history as the only second man to ever lead each discipline - swim, bike and run - and finish in first place.

T R I ATC HY LCOL NI N G

ITU WORLD TRIATHLON ABU DHABI 2018

FANS This was one of the most spectacular triathlon event hosted in the UAE. Thousands of enthusiastic participants, and proud fans came out in support of their family, friends and sporting heroes. What was more exciting for the fans were elite athletes in town who hugely influenced and participated in workshops –

2500

COMPETITORS Top left: Henri Schoeman, the first one out of the water for the swim course Top right: Rachel Klamer overtakes to become the champion of WTS Abu Dhabi 2018 PHOTOS BY JANOS SCHMIDT

“

TRIATHLON IS A UNIQUE SPORT IN ITS ABILITIES TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, IRRESPECTIVE OF ABILITIES, AGE, GENDER OR NATIONALITY.

“

made accessibility the key focus. It was so inspiring to welcome Special Olympics athletes, alongside paraathletes, age group athletes, juniors and professionals we can safely say that UAE’s triathlon future is looking bright. We must now use this momentum to develop local talents and build on the success of the past years, creating local sporting heroes who participate and succeed on the international stage.” said General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council His Excellency, Aref Al Awani.

such as the Special Olympics session. These were hosted with Andrea Hewitt and Omar Nour who met young children and inspired them to participate in sports.

Furthermore, the event showcased its international appeal, with participants from 86 countries taking part in the competition. These numbers support the notion that triathlon is the fastest growing olympic sport in the world, with global participation growing each year.

Abu Dhabi Sports Council has played a pivotal role in the growing popularity of the sport. The Emirate now boasts some triathlon clubs from the grassroots level up to the elite and has seen an increase in the number of accessible training facilities.

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COUNTRIES

LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL OUTLETS

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SPORTS

MINI OLYMPIANS RAISE THE TORCH One way to get children interested in Olympics is to host your own mini Olympic games. Bahrain did just that by rounding up children from various schools to compete in the Fifth school mini Olympics. t was an incredible sight as students from various schools from around Bahrain competed in a variety of contests at the Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town hosted by the Bahrain Olympic Committee. Children enjoyed as they actively took part in every sport and took a step towards a healthy lifestyle.

I

WINNERS The Indian School was crowned overall with a totalling-53 medal followed

by St. Christopher’s School in the second place who could take 45 medals. Al Noor International School came third with 35 medals end the exciting two-week sports gathering.

The concluding day action saw St. Chris Lightening capture the gold medal of the threeteam hockey championship, which was open for under-11 players, after a 4-0 win over St. Chris Leaves with goals from Yasmin, Emily, Noha and Isabel.

Shaikha Hessa School was

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the other school taking part.

They also captured 9 medals in the secondary stage, while 7 medals were won in the intermediate stage.

GAMES The fifth edition of the School Mini Olympics saw over 3,500 students from 58 government and private schools competing in a record 20 sports. The four-team sports were football, basketball, volleyball and handball. The remaining sports were table tennis, athletics, cricket, hockey, swimming, water sports, cycling, fencing, tennis, badminton, gymnastics, judo, karate, taekwondo, jiu-

jitsu and karting.

Speaking at the ceremony, Bahrain Olympic Committee general secretary Abdulrahman Askar said this was by far the most remarkable edition as records were broken in terms of the number of featured sports and participants. He congratulated the winners in all sports championships this year and expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education for its cooperation with the Bahrain Olympic Committee in bringing this event for the fifth successive time. The ceremony concluded with the organisers blowing out the School Mini Olympics torch flame.

5TH EDITION 20 bronze 3500 STUDENTS 58 schools

INDIAN SCHOOL

18 Gold 17 silver 18 bronze

ST. CHRISTOPHER’S SCHOOL

17 Gold 16 silver 12 bronze

17 Gold AL NOOR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL 8 silver 10 bronze THE BRITISH SCHOOL

11 Gold 15 silver 15 bronze

9 Gold ABDUL RAHMAN KANOO INTERNATIONAL 4 silver 4 bronze SCHOOL

SPORTS & BEYOND

NEW ERA IN SPORTS The future of sports has just been reshaped and you need to pay careful attention!

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SPORTS & BEYOND

DR. SAQER AL KHALIFA President, Bahrain Triathlon Association and Assistant Undersecretary for Youth Authorities and Centres of Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs

is Highness Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa announced in the Colleges League ceremony that the next version of the league will be the beginning of a new era in sports. There were two key messages in the announcement that I want to bring to your attention, NCAA and Talent Drafting.

H

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION Let’s start with NCAA, what is it exactly? This acronym stands for National Collegiate Athletics Association, and it is established and run in The United States of America.

There are more than 1100 colleges and schools members in NCAA with around half a million student-athletes.

NCAA organises 24 different sports. All these academic institutions are spread across three different competitive divisions. In a nutshell, NCAA is one of the best athletics associations in sports, even at the standard of the Spanish La Liga and English Premiership.

Also known as March Madness because of the finals, NCAA makes close to $1B in earnings.

Something to think about in the month of March.

TALENT DRAFTING And what about Talent Drafting? Consider this. Today, sports clubs around Bahrain are responsible for training citizens from the ages of 10 up till 36 to 40 years old.

Without even getting into the budget that is required for the government to do this, let’s ask ourselves if this is something sustainable. Looking at the sports model in the USA, do you see any similarities? Not at all. In America, the likes of NBA, NFL, MLB, etc. draft their talents from NCAA. Teams like the Lakers, New York Yankees, or the Philadelphia Eagles all depend heavily and perhaps solely on the NCAA. They draft their players from Universities and Colleges, and some directly from schools like Kobe Bryant. So, professional leagues scout from universities, and universities scout from schools.

the supply. A small test was made in one version of the league, and I personally saw that investing in an NCAAlike organisation will yield tremendous returns to sports and more. Think about this for a second, what if athletics in schools and universities leapt forward in their level and took a serious note to this than what is being done at the moment. What if each higher education institution had an athletics department? What if the increase in the level of competitions in universities leads to clubs becoming 100% dependent on these talents?

SCHOLARSHIPS We can almost clearly envision the future of sports after His Highness Shaikh Nasser directed us in

connecting the dots. With my basic calculations, only scholarships would be given to students in Bahrain in Football which could total up to BHD 3 Million per year. Parents would encourage their young ones to compete for those scholarships and as a result, we would no longer have to choose between continuing in sports or forfeiting talent for an academic degree.

Clubs would hence focus on postgraduates instead of spreading their operations to coach citizens for more than 20 years!

When His Highness announced 2018 as the year of Gold, now I know that he also meant the year of golden opportunities! Forward March!

YIELDING RESULTS Over here, His Highness’s vision is nothing less than a spot on. Considering the number of academic institutions we have in the region, not only in Bahrain, the demand exists but not

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MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

FIGHTING IT OUT! Being the most talked about event around the globe, this sport is turning heads. Energetic, dynamic and thrilling this nail biting sport is leaving its mark in every country. From international athletes to honing the skills of local athletes, Brave Combat Federations covers it all. rave Combat Federation hosted the tenth event in Jordan became one of the most talked about events in global MMA during the season to open the 2018 schedule of the Bahraini promotion. The event stood apart with cultural shows, concert, investor activities, open workouts and fan interaction sessions. The fight card witnessed 24 athletes from 14 nations which were the most diverse ever hosted in Jordan. The fight night was the most exciting that Jordan has ever witnessed. With all the Jordanian fighters picking wins including Jarrah Al Selawe at the co-main event, Abdul Kareem Al Selwady, Jalal Al Daaja and Nawras Abzakh the packed audience at the Boxing arena of Al Hussien Youth City had the best show in the history.

In the main event, Elias Boudegzdame fought four rounds and defended his championship against Jakub

B

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POWERUP | APRIL 2018

Kowalewicz by way of submission.

Will Fleury and Frans Mlambo picked wins for Straight Blast Ireland with Frans stating himself to the role of the contender for the Bantamweight championship. Tahar Hadbi and Fakhreddine settled their long-standing rivalry with Hadbi gaining a TKO victory bringing down Fakhreddine for the first time in his career. Sidney Wheeler gave an outstanding performance against Pawel Kielek in a fight that lasted three rounds that were decided in a split decision. With the event covered by 84 publications and an outstanding television viewership including the latest initiative to broadcast the event across 53 nations in the African continent alone, Brave Combat Federation has set new milestones with Brave 10: The Kingdom Rises.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

BRAVE COMBAT FEDERATION TAKES BAHRAIN TO BRAZIL Brave Combat Federation has announced its return to Brazil for Brave 11. Set for April 13, in Belo Horizonte, it is the first time Brave will put on a show outside of Curitiba, home for the organisation’s first two events in Brazil.

Headlining the show will be an Interim Lightweight title bout as 2016 Brazil Fighter of the Year Luan Santiago locks horns with former UFC fighter Lucas Martins. In the co-main event, Klidson Abreu will defend his championship title against Kennedy Nzechukwu at the light heavyweight division. The event will be hosted in the Mineirinho Arena (officially Estádio Jornalista Felipe Drummond) at Belo Horizonte, which is the biggest indoor sporting arena in Brazil.

HIGH PROFILE GLOBAL ATHLETES Brave Combat Federation has announced that the promotion has set his agenda to sign high profile global athletes that will increase the intensity of the competition and will aid the expansion of the promotion as Brave is set to host events in additional global destinations than the existing nations that had hosted the event.

BRAVE 10 RESULTS FEATHER WEIGHT (championship fight) Elias Boudegzdame defeated Jakub Kowalewicz by submission (triangle choke) - Round 4

WELTER WEIGHT Jarrah Al-Silawi defeated David Bear by submission (triangle choke) - Round 3 Deser t Force

LIGHT WEIGHT

GEORGES BARDAWIL Georges Bardawil is the face of MMA in Lebanon and has proved his grit by being the CFC Bantamweight Champion and EFC Bantamweight Champion. He is set for action for the event in Brazil against Carlos Soares.

Kareem-Abdul Al-Selwady defeated Charlie Leary by unanimous decision

WELTER WEIGHT Tahar Hadbi defeated Mohammad Fakhreddine

by TKO - Round 2

BANTAM WEIGHT Frans Mlambo defeated Felipe Efrain by TKO - Round 1

WELTER WEIGHT Sidney Wheeler defeated Pawel Kielek by split decision

BANTAM WEIGHT Jalal Al Daaja defeated Crisanto Pitpitunge by submission (triangle choke) - Round 1

MIDDLE WEIGHT: Will Fleury defeated Tarek Suleiman by unanimous decision

FEATHER WEIGHT

KENNEDY NZECHUKWU

BRUNO MALFACINE

Kennedy Nzechukwu is a team mate of Abdul Kareem Al Selwady at Fortis MMA and has an undefeated MMA record.

Standing at 193 cm tall with an incredible reach advantage he is a legitimate threat for any fighter in the light-heavyweight division.

Bruno Malfacine is a former Gama Filho Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter, now fighting from Alliance. A 6-time world champion with an amazing Jiu-Jitsu background winning numerous accolades.

SodiqYusuff defeated Dylan Tuke

by TKO - Round 1

BANTAMWEIGHT Nawras Abzakh defeated Abdul Hussein by submission (guillotine choke) - Round 1

MIDDLEWEIGHT Ikram Aliskerov defeated Chad Hanekom by split decision

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EVENT

WOMEN POWER SUMMIT Being successful often means learning from those who have already achieved their goals. Are you a young entrepreneur and would like to network? The Women Power Summit is where you need to be. woman driving a change is about being in control of her own life.

Women often look up to other women in their lives for cues on how to think, act, how to speak confidently, take risks, and to accomplish their goals. The Women Power Summit powered by Imtiaz For Her set to take place in Bahrain aims to bring together 500 inspiring and inspired women to share their wins, losses, life lessons and experiences, and more.

A

WOMEN POWER SUMMIT The event will gather the next generation of curious creative, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and tastemakers to spark conversations around the topics they are passionate about. From marketing and brand building to getting paid and quitting jobs, health and wellness, it will be a duration filled with actionable takeaways.

WHY THE SUMMIT Encourage and celebrate women owning their success

EMPOWERING WOMEN

Inspire women to create partnerships and play a bigger role in their communities

Such an event is organised to connect and empower women by providing them with access to a network and knowledge that can allow them to be innovative and succeed, as well as to unleash their power to create positive change.

It also aims to showcase new opportunities for investments, partnerships, and collaborations created by inspiring female entrepreneurs and investors. Over 100 speakers are set to share their success stories and inspire young women to make their dreams to reality.

For more information : www.womenpower-summit.com instagram/ womenpowersummit

Encourage women to navigate through challenges Coach women to approach and connect with mentors

DATE 6th and 7th of May 2018

VENUE Isa Cultural Centre

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TRAVEL

LAZE AWAY IN THE LAND OF CHOCOLATE & CHEESE Experience the picturesque lanes of the old town on either side of the river.

The land of chocolate, cheese and banks are sure to leave you wanting for more. Take a break from work and head down to Zurich for an adventure!

CRUISES ON LAKE ZURICH A cruise on Lake Zurich is the perfect getaway to escape the busy city and see Zurich from the waters at a different angle. There are numerous tours on Lake Zurich daily in the summer: short tours to Thalwil and Erlenbach (1.5 hours), longer tours all the way to Richterswil (2.5 hours) and long tours to Rapperswil (4 hours).

In winter, several small and a large round trip every day is on the schedule.

BAHNHOFSTRASSE Walk down the street with all the high-end couture shops in all of Zurich. Best world known designers have their stores in this shopping area from Credit Suisse, delicious chocolate shops and cafes of Paradeplatz square, on Lake Zurich, at the end of the street.

ZĂœRICH TANZT Move to the groove at the most highlighted event in the Zurich calendar. The dance festival that happens over three days takes you on a dynamic journey and encourage everyone to randomly join in. The focal point of the festival is Zurich Main Train Station where passers-by are invited to take part in different styles of dance – urban and breakdance, Irish and English folk dance, salsa and swing, right through to the melancholic and soulful milonga.

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TRAVEL ZURICH MARATHON If you’re in town during this particular week, join the marathon participated by both amateurs and pros. The run route goes along Lake Zurich for the most part and the start and finish lines are at the upper lake basin and go through downtown Zurich. Enjoy the spectacular backdrop while you stay fit during your holidays. In addition to the marathon, there is also a team run (4 runners) and a city-run (10k).

TRIP TO MT. RIGI

DESTINATION

Zu rich

RIDE ON EUROPE´S FIRST COG RAILWAY MAGNIFICENT ALPINE PANORAMA

Take in the breathtaking panoramic view of the Swiss Alps. A popular excursion destination, the scenic route leads over the Albis Pass to Weggis.

Visitors make their way up to the summit, RigiKulm, at 1,800m (5,905ft) above sea level by aerial cableway followed by a ride on Europe´s very first cog railway.

BOAT TRIP TO LUCERNE

FIFA WORLD FOOTBALL MUSEUM Travel into the world of football in this interactive spaces. Football fans will go wild as the museum covers the extraordinary history of FIFA and the Football World Cup, an interactive, multimedia world of experiences illustrates how, across the globe, the game stirs people’s emotions on a daily basis, and influences and inspires them. Along with the original World Cup Trophy, the Museum displays over 1,000 items of exclusive memorabilia and apparel, including the national football shirts of all the FIFA member associations.

WELLNESS IN THE HEART OF ZURICH Zurich’s five-star superior city hotel, Atlantis by Giardino, now offers the Ayurveda by Giardino programme by incorporating nutrition, spa treatments, yoga, mindful activities and coaching; to provide travellers with a holistic experience. The property is located at the foot of the Üetliberg mountain.

Meaning the ‘science of life’, Ayurveda is an art of healing that originated in India 5,000 years ago. This system of medicine focuses on the overall well-being of an individual and is practised worldwide today. The Ayurveda by Giardino programme was developed with the aim of helping guests find themselves, and attain harmony of the body, mind and soul. Guests learn to stay mindful of their own health even after returning to their daily routine.

The picturesque location of the resort, nestled in the lap of nature, is ideal for yoga and meditation, which is included in the programme

POWERUP | APRIL 2018

45

GOLF

LET’S GO GOLFING Being a CEO is a dream job, but you will also be under tremendous stress. All work and no play isn’t the way to go. What if one of your favourite pastimes could be the key to your fitness goals? Golf is your game. Network and stay fit at the same time. ith humble beginnings in just one country, CEO Golf Tournament has grown into a GCC platform for networking and a nursery for everlasting friendships and regional business relations.

Continuing the high standards set during the previous edition of the event, the third edition of GO Gosaibi Travel CEO Golf Tournament was not just entertaining but has raised the standard of the event to an even higher level.

The tournament saw CEO’s from Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and also from India participating.

W

TOP NAMES Over 100 top corporates and industry leaders came together for a fun-filled yet competitive round of golf. The action-packed fun-filled golf day, catered to CEO golfers and CEO non-golfers with an evening filled with awards, fine dining and explosive entertainment.

TOURNAMENT GO Gosaibi Travel CEO Golf Tournament 2018 was one of the biggest and most memorable corporate events

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POWERUP | APRIL 2018

so far this year. The event offers revitalisation for the corporate heavyweights, giving them an opportunity to network and compete on the greens.

PRIZES The CEO Golfer of the year Title Winner was awarded to Mr Mohamed Akeel, Managing Director, Coca-Cola where he had swept away the title with an impressive 38 points; he was gifted with two tickets To & Fro for any destination in Europe by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

The Golfer Runner-up for the year was awarded to Mr Chris Berry, Retail Programme Director from GIB who scored an impressive 32 points and was gifted with One Stateroom - Junior Suite on Royal Caribbean International Far East Cruise from Caribbean Cruise.

The Non-Golfer Winner is a team of ten from Go Gosaibi and was gifted with a ticket to stay in Constance Lemuria Seychelles for (2 nights) in a Junior Suite.

The longest drive winner is Ms Hanne Skjold Hansen, Finance Director from Seef

Dental and the nearest to the pin winner Mr Jeffrey Barrett, Managing Partner from A+ Auto Center WLL were given respective trophies.

To add on to this year, there was six raffle draws for the invitees who attended the award night and the biggest of all was a GO Treasure which was won by Mr Isa Ahmed Al-Doseri, Head of Investment Division from BDB. Go Gosaibi Travel CEO Golf Tournament has brought together leading global organisations and executives on a common platform through golf. Mind Strom Media will continue to expand this platform and associate CEO Golf Tournament with more golfers and corporates

across the globe.

The GO Gosaibi Travel CEO Golf Tournament is being supported by Bahrain Specialist Hospital, Grant Thornton- Abdulaal, INFINITI - Y.K. Almoayyed& Sons, Royal Caribbean, The Seychelles Island, Constance Lemuria Hotel, Royal Enfield, Air France- KLM, Wyndham Grand Manama, Fame Technology Solutions, Biz Bahrain, Info Touch, Stratford, Four Square advertising, Haute Cupcakes, Ohlala, Fact, Layalina, PowerUp, Bahrain This Week, Amex and Al Fanar Investment.

For more information Tel 17007270 www.bahraingolfers.com

REV UP

LET THE FUN

BEGIN

As the five red lights eliminate the race begins bringing the new 2018 Formula One season in Melbourne, Australia. After an exciting and thrilling 2017 championship, the teams will battle it out against each other and commence their fight for the 2018 constructor’s championship.

BY : ADITYA MITTAL

he 2017 season had brought in a massive regulation change to the sport, making the cars look wider and faster. Continuing with the trend this year, the FIA has introduced new regulations and tweaked few rules. Drivers are now restricted to only three engines per season. Interestingly the number of races is up to 21 in 2018 calendar year.

The shark fins and T-Wings have finally been banned post the criticism. After all the debate, the Halo shall make its debut at Australia this year. The cockpit device has been made mandatory for driver protection and safety.

T

NEW TIE- UPS The 2017 season also marked the end of ties between McLaren and Honda Racing. McLaren ended their three-year engine deal with Honda post their continuous poor performance on-track, surrounded with engine reliability and power issues.

They have now signed a deal with Renault until 2020. On the other hand, Toro Rosso, the sister racing team of Red Bull, switched from Renault to Honda engines for 2018 season.

DRIVER LINE- UP Like every season, including this year the driver market witnessed its own share of surprises. The top teams entered 2018 season with the same driver line-up through contract renewals, in order to maintain the stability. But lower down the pecking order, the midfield and bottom ranked teams have made changes to their line-ups. Carlos Sainz shall now be a full-time partner to Nico Hulkenberg at Renault Sport. At Williams, the 22-yearold, young Russian driver Sirotkin will make his F1 debut alongside his partner Lance Stroll. Pierre Gasly and

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Brendon Hartley shall race for Toro Rosso Honda. Whereas at Sauber, the Ferrari Academy Driver and reigning Formula 2 champion Charles Leclerc will partner Marcus Ericsson. The team has also signed a new multi-year title sponsorship deal with Alfa Romeo.

PRE-SEASON TESTS The pre-season testing is always surrounded by a lot of hype and expectations from fans and formula 1 pundits with regards to different teams and their performances. It is the same at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. The first test at Barcelona provided a little scope of analysis due to cold weather conditions. The time sheets majorly showed unrepresentative timings, wereHamilton had topped with a 1:19:333s on a set of mediums for Mercedes.

After low track temperatures disrupted the first pre- season test, all eyes were set for the second test. Teams were keen to make up for the lost ground by collecting all the valuable data and doing the aero tests.

TEAMS The test turned out to be productive as many teams managed to do long runs on different tyre compounds over the four days of testing.

FERRARI Vettel set an official lap record at Circuit de Catalunya by setting a lap time of 1.17.182s on a pair of hypersoft. He was closely followed by his teammate, Raikkonen with a 1.17.221s on the same set of tyres.

MERCEDES Ferrari might have been the quickest in testing, but Mercedes chose not to show their true qualifying pace as they concentrated more on the long runs and didn’t run on the hypersoft during the test. Overall, the team from Brackley looks to be in a good shape ahead of the season opener.

RED BULL Looking at the data, Red Bull Racing looks evenly matched and might prove to be a worthy competitor in the 3-way fight for podium along with Mercedes and Ferrari.

RENAULT In the midfield, Renault seems to have managed to progress in the right direction. They seem to have the right car, can the factory team manage to maintain consistency and speed will be a question that still remains unanswered.

to spice up the midfield competition even more with the likes ofRenault and McLaren.

SAUBER Over the years, Sauber has witnessed a downward slump due to lack of funding and developmental woes. However, with Alfa Romeo coming into the picture this season, we might expect them to improve and pull out few surprises in their battle with the other midfield teams.

As they say, it’s time to ignite the engines and push the pedal. The year 2018 does look promising and full of surprises.

MCLAREN Although, McLaren showcased their pace as the drivers pushed for the maximum in the all-new Renault engines. A major point of concern that still remains prevalent was the unreliability and issues with the car.

They need to make sure that they strike all the chords right this time around and turn their luck around for the betterment of the sport.

2018 BULLETIN

HAAS Haas might prove to be the wildcard in the pack as Kevin Magnussen pulled out a stunner on a pair of supersoft tyres. The car does look strong and well balanced.

‘Grid girls’ will no longer be used by F1 from the start of the season.

TORO ROSSO The biggest surprise during the testing was the reliability of Honda engines in the all new Toro Rosso. It will be interesting to see as to where they would land up in the championship this season.

The 21 race calendar will feature a triple header.

FORCE INDIA AND WILLIAMS Force India and Williams have fought for the best, out of the rest position in the championship. But during the test, both the teams looked wary and low on pace. There is work to do before Melbourne. Hopefully, the car updates before the first race might help them

CHAMPIONSHIP

0

A red flag will be made from the grid, rather TITLES than from behind a safety car.

POWERUP | APRIL 2018

49

FORMULA 1

FEEL THE THRILL, IT’S RACE TIME Gear up for an exciting season as Formula1 kick starts with 21 races. There are familiar tracks returning to the line up like Germany and France who are back this season and Le Castellet and Hockenheim once again hosting races. Formula 1 will have its first triple-header this year, with the French, Austrian and British Grand Prix all due to take place on consecutive weekends.

WHAT IS THE 2018 DHL FASTEST LAP AWARD? Every Formula One driver is fast, but is the race winner really the fastest? Since 2007 DHL has defined a new standard of speed with the ‘DHL Fastest Lap Award’.

One driver sets the fastest lap at each race - the award will go to the man who sets the most over the season.

FRI 06 APR – SUN, 08 APR 2018 PRACTICE 1

FRI

14:00 – 15:30

PRACTICE 2

FRI

18:00 – 19:30

PRACTICE 3

SAT

15:00 – 16:00

QUALIFYING

SAT

18:00 – 19:00

RACE

SUN

18:10 – 20:10

MEET THE TEAM

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport See off a stern title challenge from Ferrari, as their W08 car proves – by their own admission – to be something of a ‘diva’. With old adversary Rosberg gone, Hamilton settles nicely into his role as the team’s de facto number one, leading them to a fourth successive championship double, as new partner Valtteri Bottas scores his first (three) race wins.

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LEWIS HAMILTON

PODIUM FINISHES

138

VALTTERI BOTTAS CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES

4

RANKINGS AS OF 31 MARCH 2018

FORMULA 1

Scuderia Ferrari An innovative car reinvigorates the team and puts them back on par with world champions Mercedes, at least for the first half of the season. But infuriating technical niggles (plus the odd driver error) in the second drop them out of title contention, with an eventual total of five race wins to their rivals’ 12.

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Unable to keep pace with world champions Mercedes and a resurgent Ferrari, drop to third in the standings, not helped by poor Renault reliability. Even so, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen prove their star quality by taking three wins between them.

Sahara Force India F 1 Team Leave Williams in their wake as they firmly establish themselves as ‘best of the rest’ behind the top three teams. Sergio Perez partnered with Mercedes protege Esteban Ocon in a new driver line-up that proves a little too close for comfort, forcing the imposition of team orders after a number of spectacular on-track clashes.

SEBASTIAN VETTEL

PODIUM FINISHES

741

DANIEL RICCIARDO

148

PODIUM FINISHES

SERGIO PEREZ

PODIUM FINISHES

5

KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN

16

CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES

MAX VERSTAPPEN

4

CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES

ESTEBAN OCON CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES

n/a

POWERUP | APRIL 2018

51

FORMULA 1

Williams Martini Racing The return of Paddy Lowe as chief technical officer comes too late to truly impact the FW40, which returns just 83 points (to its predecessor’s 138) in the hands of veteran Felipe Massa and rookie teammate Lance Stroll. A surprise podium for Stroll in Azerbaijan is their only top-five result of the year.

Renault Sport Formula One Team Huge strides are made with the team’s first car designed around their own powerplant, resulting in a sevenfold increase in points scored and a four-place leap in the standings. Jolyon Palmer replaced as Nico Hulkenberg’s teammate midseason, with Carlos Sainz joining to form one of the grid’s strongest driver line-ups.

Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda Another season, another seventh-placed finish, despite a move to Renault power (as used by parent team Red Bull) and despite starting the year with one driver line-up – Carlos Sainz (released mid-year to Renault as a new Honda engine deal is agreed for 2018) and Daniil Kvyat (dropped after erratic form) – and ending it with another – Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasly.

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LANCE STROLL

PODIUM FINISHES

311

CARLOS SAINZ

PODIUM FINISHES

59

PIERRE GASLY

PODIUM FINISHES

1

SERGEY SIROTKIN

9

CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES

NICO HULKENBERG CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES

2

BRENDON HARTLEY CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES

n/a

RANKINGS AS OF 31 MARCH 2018

FORMULA 1

Haas F 1 Team Romain Grosjean pairs up with a new teammate in the form of feisty Dane Kevin Magnussen and Haas prove that their maiden campaign was no flash in the pan, scoring 47 points – 18 more than in 2016 – to retain the eighth place in the standings.

McLaren F 1 Team A third disappointing season with Honda engines proves to be the final straw for the revived partnership, prompting a switch to Renault power for 2018. Just 30 points are scored by Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne, despite a seemingly excellent chassis - one which helps Alonso to the fastest lap of the race in Hungary.

Alfa Romeo Sauber F 1 Team Another tough campaign ends with just a five championship points. However, the mid-season arrival of Frederic Vasseur as team principal, followed by an Alfa Romeo title sponsorship deal for 2017 plus the signing of Ferrari protege Charles Leclerc, all bodes well for a brighter future.

ROMAIN GROSJEAN

PODIUM FINISHES

n/a

FERNANDO ALONSO

485

PODIUM FINISHES

CHARLES LECLERC

PODIUM FINISHES

27

KEVIN MAGNUSSEN CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES

n/a

STOFFEL VANDOORNE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES

8

MARCUS ERICSSON CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES

n/a

POWERUP | APRIL 2018

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FORMULA 1

2017 DRIVER STANDINGS

1

LEWIS HAMILTON

GBR

MERCEDES

363

2

SEBASTIAN VETTEL

GER

FERRARI

317

3

VALTTERI BOTTAS

FIN

MERCEDES

305

4

KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN

FIN

FERRARI

205

5

DANIEL RICCIARDO

AUS

RED BULL RACING

200

6

MAX VERSTAPPEN

NED

RED BULL RACING

168

7

SERGIO PEREZ

MEX

FORCE INDIA

100

8

ESTEBAN OCON

FRA

FORCE INDIA

87

9

CARLOS SAINZ

ESP

RENAULT

54

10

NICO HULKENBERG

GER

RENAULT

43

DID YOU KNOW...?

Helmets have been compulsory in Formula One since 1953. Modern helmets consist of three main substances: carbon fibre for rigidity, fire-resistant aramide and polyethylene, which is designed to make the helmet shell impenetrable. A modern Formula One helmet weighs only about 1,250 grams.

The FIA has founded its own Institute for Safety in Motor Sport. This was one of the many measures taken for greater safety in Formula One racing as a consequence of the catastrophic spring of 1994, when two drivers died at the San Marino Grand Prix.

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POWERUP | APRIL 2018

The monocoque, the safety cell for the driver, consists of up to 12 layers of carbon and weighs less than 60 kilograms.

Two ambulances and a helicopter manned by a doctor, two paramedics and a pilot stand by throughout the race. A second helicopter is kept ready outside the circuit and four additional ambulances are posted along the race track.

The safety of the spectators at Formula One races is controlled by approximately 150 security officials, in addition to approximately 130 medics and doctors.

Safety belts have only been compulsory in Formula One racing since 1972. It must be possible to release all the individual belts for the shoulders, pelvis and legs with a single hand movement, because the regulations specify that a driver must be capable of getting out of the car within five seconds.

PHOTOS : © ALLIANZ

RANKINGS AS OF 31 MARCH 2018

REV UP

HELLO

RB14!

Four-time constructors’ champion, four-time drivers’ champion Red Bull is certainly looking for another win this year.

The Austrian team is looking to pose a serious challenge against Mercedes and Ferrari for the championship. ston Martin Red Bull Racing team has unveiled their new 2018 Formula 1 car, the RB14.

The Milton Keynes-based squad holds an unchanged driver line-up of Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen for this season. They are hoping to grab another sustained Formula 1 world title charge having claimed a total of three race wins and 13 podiums last season on its way to third place in the world constructors’ championship.

A

The car made its competitive début at the 2018 Australian Grand Prix. Similar to the RB12 and RB13, the RB14 uses a Renault engine badged as a TAG Heuer.

“New bodywork regulations always dominate the news cycle in the launch season, but 2018 has a bigger acreage of change than most years with the introduction of the halo and the new exclusion zones on the rear of the car that effectively remove shark fins, monkey seats and T-wings,” said the Red Bull press release. “Some years it’s difficult for the casual viewer to differentiate the new car from the old that isn’t going to be a problem this time around.

“That said, the technical regulations haven’t changed hugely since 2018.

Installing the halo has been a challenge -- mostly in terms of building a chassis strong enough to accommodate it and pass a brutal homologation test -- but the rest of the regs have been comparatively stable. That’s the primary reason we’re able to launch earlier than usual.”

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ENGINE SPECS Engine Aston Martin Red Bull Racing-Tag Heuer

6 Number of cylinders 1600 cC Capacity 15,000 Max Rpm 24 Number of Valves 90 Degrees Vee Angle Exxon Mobil Oil 145 Kg FIA Minimum Weight

REV UP

RB14 SPECS Chassis Composite monocoque structure, designed and built in-house, carrying the tag heuer power unit as fully stressed member Transmission Eight-speed gearbox, longitudinally mounted with hydraulic system for power shift and clutch operation Wheels Oz racing, front: 13.7 in x 13in diam., rear: 16.9 in x 13in diam

Tyres Pirelli

Brakes Brembo Calipers

Suspension

Electronics Mesl standard electronic control unit

Front: aluminium alloy uprights, carbon fibre composite double wishbones with pushrods, springs, anti-roll bar and dampers

Fuel Exxon mobil

rear: aluminium alloy uprights, carbon fibre composite double wishbones with pullrods, springs, anti-roll bar and dampers

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& WELLNESS

H E A LT H

CHOOSE RIGHT AND STAY HEALTHY Can healthy food be tasty? Yes, it can! They can be yumilicious and good for your body. Healthy food results in healthy lifestyle which improves long life, boosts energy, controls weight, improves mood, combats diseases and better work productivity.

CHECK OU T T H E S E S IM PLE H E A LT H Y T IP S F O R A H E A LT H Y D AY

BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE FOR AT LEAST 45 MINUTES A DAY If you like to do a particular exercise then do it. It is fine if you do not have the time to go to the gym. You can work out in small ways wherever you are. Walk, run, swim, dance or even aerobic, get to it.

HEALTHY BREAKFAST DAILY One rule, never skip your breakfast! The most common excuse people give is lack of time. It takes less than 10 minutes to make a perfectly healthy breakfast. You need loads of energy before you begin the day.

DRINK 8 - 6 CUPS OF WATER DAILY (1.5L TO 2L) It helps your metabolism & helps you clear your mind.

GET ENOUGH SLEEP After a hard long day, it is necessary to get 7 - 8 hours of sleep. Lack of sleep affects your metabolism, your appetite will be higher

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H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

MEXICAN CULINARY QUEST Cantina Kahlo is a place to go to for an authentic Mexican cuisine for an exquisite dining experience like nothing else on the Island. It was opened a year ago within The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain and became a great addition for Mexican restaurants in the island.

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s we enter Cantina Kahlo, we are welcomed with a bold multi-hued and vibrant green Mexican inspired decor that is quite captivating and calming.

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The outside terrace area overlooking the water feature is relatively a special venue during the day for a corporate get together and lunch with friends. At night, the restaurantturns into a warm place for a romantic evening or simply a place to chill out with a live band creating a vibrant atmosphere inside.

We sampled a mixed selection of starters out of which the Ceviche and the guacamole, tops as our favourites.

The band started to play as they serve our main course which gives the place a lovely relaxing background music while

REVIEW

we we’re having conversation during dinner. One of us ordered a selection of tacos and the chef served us with some steak, salmon and other dishes to share.

The rib eye steak and salmon was served perfectly cooked. Every time we dine at Cantina Kahlo, we always made sure to reserve a space for some churros dessert served with our favouriterefreshing guava dip.

The gastronomic journey lends synonymously to a Mexican fiesta with dishes and flavors curated carefully by Chef Cesar de Leon Torres and his fully dedicated team.

As the newest addition to a diverse selection of culinary favorites at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain, Cantina Kahlo became known for delicious dishes such

as artisanal tacos, ceviche, guacamole as well as crowd-pleasers like “sopes” and mouth-watering “flautas”, besides other delicacies ranging from pulled chicken and roasted pineapple sour cream to field mushrooms and beef tongue.

Cantina Kahlo recently introduced an enhanced a la carte menu including new indulgent dishes like crab meat ceviche, duck confit, smoked salmon with xni-pec sauce and sumptuous USDA tenderloin.

The restaurant also hosts one-of-a-kind brunch experience as well that boasts

free-flow of Margarita, authentic dishes, taco station and irresistible sweet treats.

The Brunch Fiesta runs every Saturday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. so get your friends together for the weekend.

For more information: Cantina Kahlo The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Tel 1758 6499 Email. rc.bahrz.restaurant.reservations@ ritzcarlton.com

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H E A LT H

RELAX, REFLECT AND REJUVENATE With a busy schedule around the week, sometimes it is necessar y for you to shut down and take a break.

Your health is of utmost impor tance and all it takes is to calm your mind and draw the peacefulness of your surroundings. ealthcare is essential as it helps you to be your best in all areas.

Sometimes all it requires is for you to check into wellness programs and simply unwind.

Live Your Life at Al Areen Spa & Wellness is right for you.

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DETOX PROGRAM A cleansing intervention is a modern need that has to be gone through by everyone to effectively detoxify from the pollution, processed foodlike foods, toxic relationships, chemicals and many more factors that we are exposed in our everyday lives.

HOLISTIC TREATMENTS Allow a therapist to offer you a soothing foot bath, herbal drink and few minutes to leave the cares of the world behind. All spa package and a la carte spa treatment sessions are built-in with a complimentary 30-minute calm time.

WEIGHT OPTIMISATION PROGRAM

RE-ENERGISING PROGRAM A range of holistic spa treatments, yoga and meditation and more activities might just be what you are looking for. Ranging from our signature massages to

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luxurious baths, sunrise yoga and moonlight meditation to getting closer to nature through a nature walk, all designed to relax and re-energize you.

People gain weight when they consume more calories than they burn. Today’s lifestyle has provided mankind with more calories than we can burn and as a result of that, people all around the world have started suffering from weight problems. Join a weight loss program where you will get the skills and knowledge to balance your weight.

Amidst an ambience of seclusion and luxury, Live Your Life at Al Areen Spa & Wellness offers a unique and exquisite haven for busy lives. They offer services of integrated healthcare that seamlessly combined Western and Eastern medicines with the latest technology.

Allow the certified therapist and health professionals to offer you a suitable therapy.

These wellness programs are available for one day or more.

For more information: Al Areen Spa and Wellness Tel +973 1784 5000

H E A LT H A N D W E L L N E S S

TAKE YOUR FITNESS TO NEW HEIGHTS We’ve all experienced it before – tr ying ever ything from the latest high-fat diet to endless iterations of HIIT, yet still unable to lose that little muffin top or get past the fitness plateau. We have the per fect answer for you – high altitude fitness training. igh altitude fitness training has actually been popular amongst professional athletes for decades but has never really reached the mass market.

Strange, considering it is one of the very few scientifically proven ways to reduce body fat.

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TRAINING The tangible benefits of living at altitude are almost too many to count and when compounded with an intensive fitness regime, results are guaranteed. Your body works harder to process oxygen, so your metabolism runs higher and you burn fat just trying to keep up. Training at altitude also naturally rebalances your hormones so you feel full

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more easily and don’t indulge as much.

Initially, you’ll feel more unfit than usual, but you’ll soon adjust and become fitter than before.

You will also experience greater mental clarity and well-being, which explains why pilgrimages and meditation often occur at altitude, and temples and shrines are often in the mountains. All of these benefits are sustained long after returning to sea level, so training at altitude once or twice a year is a very feasible way of maintaining optimal physical and mental health.

FITNESS ON THE MOUNTAINS With a long history of delivering outdoor experiences in the Himalayas K-Line an adventure company brings its high altitude game to the spectacular Al Hajar mountains, the highest area in the Arabian peninsula.

These programs operate at 2000m above sea level. For those who are concerned

about altitude sickness, this does not generally have a noticeable effect until 4500m, however it’s best to build up strength and fitness beforehand. Other sensible measures include avoiding strenuous activity on the first day, drinking plenty of fluids and staying away from alcohol and unnecessary medication.

Altitude sickness pills are also a precaution.

H E A LT H A N D W E L L N E S S

Aptly named, K-Line’s has three programs which are classified as MTN FIT™, MTN YOGA™ and MTN RELAX™.

All programs are integrated into the unique mountainous terrain and staged in select locations around the resort.

Although anyone from professional athletes to beginners can participate, you should be mobile, healthy and have at least a basic level of fitness. Once you sign up, K-Line Master Trainers will conduct a private interview and formulate a pre-trip training program and answer all your questions about preparing for the trip. A maximum group size of 8 keeps the programs private and tailoured.

MTN FIT™ This is a high altitude fitness camp aggressively targeted at fitness, strength and fat loss. Each individuals’ program is customized and variety is the name of the game, with each day’s activities alternating between flexibility, core, strength and cardio. Your Master Trainer will be with you for two long sessions a day, meaning a total daily training time of up to six hours. The high-quality fitness equipment is engineered specifically for outdoor performance and comfort. Each day is a progression, building on the previous day to achieve maximum results.

MTN YOGA™ Join in an immersive yoga experience that uses the benefits of altitude to enhance your practice. The body processes oxygen more efficiently, resulting in improved breathing and mental clarity.

PAUL LALLEY is a former competitive athlete and expert snowboarder who is qualified to level 2 with the American Avalanche Association. He is also the founder of K-Line Adventures a company that specializes in high altitude adventure sports in unique locations around the world.

MTN RELAX™ This is a supplementary program for those who wish to join the trip but don’t want to commit to the intensive programs. You are welcome to participate in some fitness and yoga, so it’s also perfect for those who are recovering from injury, or just want to unwind.

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TENNIS

CELEBRATING TENNIS CLINIC DAY Everybody deserves to have a fun experience while playing the sport of Tennis. French apparel and accessories brand Lacoste, made sure special needs children got every bit of the opportunity to have a thrilling experience.

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Latisha Chan felt that these special needs children were inspiration to others, and it meant a lot to the world of Tennis. The popular Clinic Day saw over 90 children from Al Noor Training Centre, Manzil Centre, Sunmarke School, Dubai Autism Centre and Dubai Centre for Special Needs participating in fun activities and tennis coaching

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at the Dubai Tennis Stadium.

Latisha Chan, joined in the fun and helped coach the new tennis pros, alongside local influencers, which included Mina Al Sheikhly, Dana Ourani and Kat Lebrasse, and radio presenters Eve Jaso and Maz Hakim to name a few. After an hour of excitement and fun, the kids enjoyed a lunch onsite.

Louise Walker, a teacher at Dubai Centre for Special Needs, said “The kids are having an amazing time, it’s the first time here for my class. It’s great to get the kids out in public and let them experience different people and for them to interact with them. They love that they can play tennis and meet all these new people, they love it.

“It’s essential for these kids to stay active, for example,

“

MY FAVOURITE PART OF THE DAY IS TO SEE THOSE SMILES ON THEIR FACES AFTER HITTING THE BALLS OR AFTER HIGH FIVING THEM.

“

esigned to offer an exciting day, the Lacoste Special Needs Tennis Clinic supported

by Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships. The children were delighted to meet Chan, who said, “My favourite part of the day is to see those smiles on their faces after hitting the balls or after high fiving them.

I feel the response from the kids shows you how happy they are.”

one child here struggles just to get up and do stuff, so it’s nice for her just to run around and hit some tennis balls. We would love to come back next year.”

These children got the opportunity to see world class players at their game and interact with them. Such opportunities prove that there aren’t any boundaries for these children and they do have several doors of opportunities. The sky is the limit.

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

NO EXCUSES JUST WORKOUT This Swedish fitness craze is not just a fad, but a trend that could benefit both you and the environment. Pick-up trash while you exercise. It’s called Plogging!

here are many fitness workouts that we follow to keep our body in shape. What if you could do this and help the environment at the same time? Plogging is the new fitness trend that is a must know and is easy to do. All you have to do is pick up trash while you go jogging. It is a mash-up of two words which is “jogging” and “plockaupp” which means picking up in Swedish.

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STAY FIT You can combine fitness with saving the earth one piece of trash at a time. You don’t have to register or take membership or have any equipment to be a part of this trend. You can pick up things littered and can enjoy a clean running route.

CLEAN & MEAN Here is your chance to stay fit and healthy while you can contribute to a cleaner, greener and litter free Bahrain.

PHOTOS: KATHRYN BLAND Kathryn Bland is a Marine Conservationist and a journalist based in UK She star ted Plastic Pollution Solution (@plastic_ pollutionsolution)

BENEFITS OF PLOGGING Stress Relief Interval Training Beat the winter blues Confidence & Self Esteem Anti-depression

BURN EM’ Plogging helps you run with intermittent squatting or lunging which goes for an incredible workout. You can even use the health app Lifesum to log and track your plogging workout. According to the app, a typical plogger will burn about 288 calories in 30 minutes of Plogging. This is more or else what you would burn off while jogging.

Meet environmentalist Erik Ahlström who brought another face to jogging.

Put off by the amount of litter on the streets and in the parks, he gathered joggers armed with garbage bags and gloves–to lope through Stockholm with him, picking up litter as they go. He calls the practice “plogging,” which combines the Swedish verbs “to pick” and “to jog.

He’s the man behind the trending fitness workout “PLOGGING”

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H E A LT H A N D W E L L N E S S

BREATHE RIGHT TO STAY HEALTHY The next time you find yourself in a stressful situation, don’t grab for a snack.

Stay calm and do a couple of breathing exercises. Here are a few easy ones you can star t off with wherever you are by daily burn.

AT YOUR DESK Deep breathing has been shown to increase the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, the system opposite our fight-or-flight response responsible for a calmer, more tranquil manner. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdominal area. For one to two minutes, take deep, focused breaths, making sure you spend as much time on the exhalation as the inhalation.

The key to this exercise is to make sure that your abdominals rise before your chest says Noam Tamir a fitness expert.

WARMING UP

WORKING OUT

Spend a few minutes foam rolling your upper body.

After that, you can start the deep breathing exercise. By focusing on your breath prior to exercising, you’re reinforcing proper breathing mechanics before any heavy lifting or HIIT takes place. The result: Less huffing and puffing once the exertion commences, leading to a more efficient workout.

For heavy loads and max efforts, use the Vasalva Manoeuvre. For sub-maximal loads, use bracing. The Valsalva Manoeuvre is a technique that involves taking a deep breath immediately prior to lifting and holding that breath while you lift.

Bracing creates stability throughout the entire core and reduces injury risk.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

Aesthetica Dental Center Aestheticabh @Aesthetica_bh 17291110

NOW OPEN IN ELMERCADO MALL JANABIA

H E A LT H

TIPS FROM THE

EXPERT PowerUp asked physical therapist Daniel Holst a question that most people wonder. How do you reduce the risk of being injured during a triathlon? Who better to answer than the exper t who is also a triathlete. riathlon is swimming, biking and running all in one single race, so there are a lot of different activities that can cause many different kinds of injuries.

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CYCLING

DANIEL HOHLS Physical therapist German Orthopaedic Hospital

Cycling is a lot about the back or neck due to aero position or not being well adjusted on the bike. You might need a professional bike fit, you might need to stretch your back more or work more on not arching the back too much while leaning forward.

Also if you are in the aero position try not to lift your head a lot. Every 15-20 seconds should be reasonable and try to look up more using your eyes than your neck.

SWIMMING In swimming, calf cramps and shoulder problems are probably the most often occurring problems.

For cramps try and stretch the calf when it cramps, and also before swimming, as well as making sure you have enough electrolytes (especially calcium, magnesium and potassium). For shoulder problems (i .g . swimmers shoulder) you most often have to train up the rotator cuff muscles.

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RUNNING With running the stress is mostly on the knees and feet/ankles. You can twist ankles, get plantar fasciitis, calf cramps, jumpers knee, runners knee, meniscus problems, kneecap grinding and many more. Similar principles apply to running as to swimming, stretch calf, quads and gluts regularly.

Make sure you are hydrating well and have enough electrolytes but also not over hydrating.

Running style plays a big factor as well. Many runners overstride and create an excessive force on the knee while also slowing themselves down.

NUTRITION

N ut t y Bliss Get supercharged with this protein-packed smoothie. Fuel your workout with this banana smoothie which will get you energised during your workout. Plus, bananas provide antioxidants, potassium and other nutritional benefits.

AFTER YOUR NEXT PUSH UP, TRY OUT THIS BANANA WALNUTS SMOOTHIE!

I N G R E D I E N TS

236.59 ml skim milk

0.50 large banana

0.50 tablespoon honey

1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

handful walnut pieces (or 7 halves)

FUN FACT: INSTRUCTIONS Blend all ingredients together.

RE CIPE N OTE S Per serving: 227 calories 10 grams protein 5 grams fat (1 grams saturated fat) 37grams carbohydrates 2 grams fibre 5 milligrams cholesterol 130 milligrams sodium

Why Go Bananas?

Bananas will boost your performance when consumed before, during and after workouts and competitions. Eating half a banana every 15 minutes during exercise is as effective as sipping a comparable amount of sports drink in terms of sustaining exercise performance.

Not just providing energy but they contain a broad range of vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and phyto nutrients.

Source of Energy Packed With Potassium Vitamin C Powerhouse Convenient and Cost-Effective

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H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

THINK, FEEL, EAT & EXERCISE! We all have long working hours and it often gets the best of us. Slouching in a chair for hours or driving about in the Bahrain heat can wear us down. Here are some ways to beat it and to stay healthy this summer. ou often underestimate the impact of proper diet and exercise to your body. With our current society and living environment, it’s easy to forget to take your required portions of fruits and vegetables and take enough steps throughout your day.

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Fortunately, the new generation in Bahrain is becoming more health conscious and we are seeing an uprise of gyms and health clubs that are trying to promote

being active. With that said, nutritionists and trainers around the world have a common understanding, which is that you cannot outrun a bad diet.

NOOR AL MEHZA Instagram @naturevalleybahrain

SWEET TOOTH Steer away from the confectionary aisle in the supermarket; out of sight out of mind! Instead of grabbing for a sweet

delight, try out a bag of mixed berries, nuts or even some fruits. Tell yourself this is good and grab a healthy snack!

Healthy eating should not just be considered part of a diet in trying to lose weight, rather part of a lifestyle you are willing to sustain. This can be hard at first, but once you get in the habit of things you will not look backtrust us.

Try following these tips we have:

H20 TIME Make sure you always have a bottle of water in hand, drinking the recommended water intake is vital! Water will give you

the boost to maximize your physical performance, higher energy levels and weight loss!

So get your H20.

DESK JOCKEY It’s not healthy to sit all day but we have to do it anyway. Staring at the screen, the wrong posture could all have negative effects on your body. Ever heard of healthy living behind your desk? Small movements will help you break the pattern of standing

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up in between. Move around the office every once in a while throughout your day.

Take short breaks if possible and shed some calories by not grabbing for that cup of coffee but walk for 5 minutes.

Recharge yourself!

Visit your nearest Nature Valley store for more healthy eating tips and products to help you!

Aramex is a leading provider of comprehensive logistics and transportation solutions. The range of services offered by Aramex includes international and domestic express delivery, freight forwarding, logistics and warehousing, documents management, online shopping services "Shop&Ship" and e-commerce solutions.

FASHION

&

GEARS

GEAR

REDEFINING STYLE Here’s a look at the first TAG Heuer chronograph to bear the prestigious “ Tête de Vipère” stamp of excellence, awarded by the Besançon Obser vator y. Since 2006, only 500 watches have received this highly exclusive cer tification.

A brand new limited edition of 155 pieces released to celebrate 55 years since the Heuer Carrera was created.

The “Tête de Vipère” stamp was applied to a chronometer for the first time by the Besançon Observatory in 1897. This high-quality metrological guarantee is a mark of the unrivalled precision and excellence of a watch. Abandoned in the 1970s, then relaunched in 2006, the “Tête de Vipère” stamp has since been awarded to just 500 pieces.

To obtain this certificate of excellence, each fully assembled watch undergoes a protocol involving 16 days of testing, in five different positions at three different temperatures.

The Besançon Observatory, operating on behalf of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, is the only independent, public organisation able to inspect chronometers. More than simply proof of quality and accuracy, this stamp is confirmation of technical

expertise which borders on perfection. The stamp actually certifies the watch as a whole, not just the movement.

TAG Heuer is therefore today unveiling a new, highly modern version of its TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Chronometer with a contemporary design and featuring two of traditional watchmaking’s most famous complications: a tourbillon and a chronograph. The movement is housed in a magnificent midnight blue ceramic case, complemented by a ceramic bezel and lugs.

Elegant touches of blue can also been seen on the weight and movement barrel. With its polished, brushed and beadblasted finishes, the result is a sophisticated, modern piece, reflecting the highest quality Swiss watchmaking technology. The “Tête de Vipère” stamp has been applied to the bridge, visible through the sapphire crystal

of the case back.

The piece is complemented by a beautiful black alligator strap, sewn onto rubber with blue stitching, endowing it with TAG Heuer’s signature refined yet sporty look.

The TAG Heuer Carrera “Tête de Vipère” Chronograph Tourbillon Chronometer is a perfect addition to the brand’s range, enriching the design codes and DNA of TAG Heuer, Avant-Garde since 1860.

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FA S H I O N A N D G E A R S

Bored of wearing the same old clothes to the gym every day? Get inspired, get motivated with the new active wear launched by ASOS. They are known for their active wear, but they just got better with their new line. Get fit with the all-new fashion-forward and affordable clothes.

Check out some of the neutral shaped pieces that you are bound to love. It’s time to go for that flashy workout look like a pop-colour or go full-out!

The clothes also feature a few key functional details, like reflective prints on the running wear, tech pockets, and compression pieces for extra support. And ASOS came through with its range of inclusive sizes.

Many of the pieces are available in petite, “curve,” tall, or maternity options. Best of all, updating your wardrobe won’t do too much damage.

ASOS 4505 Gym t-shirt with contrast breathable mesh panel ASOS -4505 Multi sneaker with sock

ASOS -4505 Black sleeveless run jacket with back zip functional

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FA S H I O N A N D G E A R S

ASOS -4505 Neck warmer in black

ASOS -4505 Curve molded sports bra with underwire

ASOS -4505 Multi run legging in rally print

ASOS -4505 Parachute Cropped Jacket

ASOS -4505 Training T-shirt in tight fit / Training booty short

ASOS -4505 Blue mesh backpack

ASOS -4505 Multi tank in floral print

ASOS -4505 Black running jacket in reflective print and puff sleeve

ASOS -4505 Black tall sweatshirt in 4 way stretch jersey

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GEAR

SUTTON IMAGES

MOTOR MANIA GEARS Quench your motorsports appetite with these incredible top of the line motorsport gears. Whether you’re on the grid gearing up for a race, working in the pits, spectating from the stands, or in front of the tv, here are some killer gears we’ve listed to get you started.

AL PINE STA R S KMX5 - S YOU TH SU IT T E C H 1 - K Z S H OE Incorporating technical features proven in Formula 1 and specific innovations for the kart track, the new Tech-1 KZ Shoe offers lightweight and precise support and anatomical forefoot profile, while new external reinforcements on the rounded heel and ankles provide high levels of protection and performance.

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A casual racer going for a racing sport in between weekends then the Delta suit pictured is a perfect starting point. A versatile kart racing suit designed specifically for youth which conforms to the latest CIK FIA homologation standards, the KMX-5 S Youth combines comfort and performance fit with a full floating arm construction and rear stretch panel for freedom of movement and a lightweight two-layer main shell with a moisture-wicking lining.

GEAR

2 1

3

1 R AC I N G R ADIO K IT A race radio kit is necessary to keep constant communication with the crew.

The experts at racingradios.com have complete plug-and-play kits for all requirements and price points. For the endurance racer, the Long Track System is perfect. For fans in the stands, the Uniden BC75XLT with RR headset keeps you apprised of the race chatter.

2 STI LO ST 5 GT CA RBON HELME T Safety takes priority over aesthetics when it comes to racing helmets. With the Stilo ST5 GT Carbon, you don’t have to choose one or the other, thanks to full carbon-fibre construction and sleek, purposeful design. Indeed, it’s not just another pretty face. Each ST5 is Snell SA2015 certified with available hookups for ventilation, hydration, and radio.

3 MON TBL A N C T IM E WAL KE R For a watch, you can use as a lap timer in the pits and turn around, check out the Montblanc Timewalker Rally Timer.

Designed as a throwback to the popular Minerva dash timers from years ago, the manual-wind Rally Timer offers three different configurations: Wear it on your wrist, use the integrated case stands as a desk clock, or mount it in your race car.

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GEAR

HELMETS

CHECK!

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO GO ROAD RACING, OR READY TO HIT THE TRACKS THEN THERE IS ONE THING YOU DEFINITELY NEED, THAT IS A HELMET!

It could be quite confusing when you walk into the store and find so many helmets on the shelf. Many colours, many features and tons of choices but the difference could be hard to understand.

So here are a few helmets that could be on your list when you go helmet shopping.

ST I LO ST 5 GT Z ERO 8 8 6 0 >> This is the helmet to have! If you are looking for an all in feature helmet then it has a Communications standard, with headphones optional; Optional hydration port; Optional forced air; Optional eject bladder; FIA 8860 rated and yet among the lightest helmets we’ve tested; Comfortable for many users; Wide array of visors and peaks; Wide eyeport.; Aerodynamics kit included.

<< SC HU BERTH SF 2 P RO 8860 A light helmet with exceptional aerodynamics, this is used to be a custom helmet but is now available in stock.

STILO ST 5 GT 8 8 60 >> The design looks cool, especially in a carbon weave. The ST5 GT 8860 offers features like optional comms port/mic, hydration port, forced air, and high comfort. It adds FIA 8860 certification and subtracts some weight. All drivers will find very comfortable.

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GEAR

B E LL G P.3 CARB O N Here is a carbon helmet by Bell and they have an incredible choice in the GP.3. The GP.3 is low weight and, like the M8, it features Bell’s “pyjama soft” padding.

BL AC K A RMOR C IRC U I T P RO C OMP O S IT E It is important that your helmet fits you perfect especially if you have to sit in your car for a long time. Black Armor helmet has a removable interior so you can adjust pad thickness to dial in the fit, within limits, to your particular head shape and size. What is even cooler is that this helmet can be adapted for communications and hydration connections with Black Armor’s ModPod options.

H J C A R 10 - I I I The HJC AR-10 III has a padding that would fit many.

Though many helmets may have odd shapes, this helmet pays attention to real head shapes.

BELL M 8 CA RBON The Bell M8 Carbon blends legendary Bell quality with a lightweight carbon fibre shell with super soft interior padding.

The new padding material helps the M8 work for more drivers than ever.

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MOBILE APPS

TEST YOUR DRIVING SKILLS Planning to catch ever y race this season or testing your ride on the tracks? Here are a few apps that you should download to make the experience all the more smooth and fun.

FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX APP

RACE SCOUT Mercedes-AMG launched its “Race Scout” platform, an app aimed to help connect drivers and teams in the motorsports world, as well as other industry professionals in the future.

Developed in cooperation

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with Labs 1886, the app allows drivers and teams to interact by placing notices for available drives, which is integrated into each driver or team’s profile page. A built-in messenger service then allows

drivers and team managers to have private conversations within the app, to begin discussions. It is available free of charge on iOS devices.

Dive into every circuit on the 2018 Formula 1 Calendar with this interactive map.

Find your way around each circuit quickly and easily with geotagged points of interest such as grandstands, shops, hospitality suites, food and drink stalls, car parks and train stations. Discover F1 Fan zone locations and information about all the activities. You can stay up to date with the latest schedules so you always know what’s happening on the circuit and also off the track with entertainment taking place all through the weekend. There’s no need to worry if the plans change either, with notifications sent straight to your phone so you always know what’s happening and where. The fun doesn’t stop with the end of the racing action. When you arrive for your Grand Prix weekend, make sure the Formula 1 Grand Prix App is part of it.

COMING SOON

ENDURE SURVIVE CONQUER