Dubai, 24 December 2022: Young Emirati Zayed Al-Marri flawlessly displayed his skills in heritage sports and registered a perfect score of 100 points to advance to the next round of the 23rd Fazza Championship for Youlah and 18th edition of Al Meydan Program, organised annually by Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Centre (HHC).

Saeed Al Shamsi also showed his composure and advanced with 65 points during Episode 3 of the competition over the weekend in Al Marmoom, Dubai.

Excitement and anticipation are now intensifying as the two young yuweels (participants) have joined Ali Al-Azizi, Muhammad Al-Ketbi, Abdullah Bel-Hali, and Ali Al-Ghafli, who qualified earlier in the first two episodes. Two more yuweels are awaited to complete the final cast of quarterfinalists for the next Meydan Grand Knight.

Perfect score

Al-Marri achieved the full score of 100 points and became the first yuweel this season to dominate all six competitions, including Youlah, camel racing, Saktoun (traditional Emirati rifle) shooting, Arabic poetry reading, swimming and the newly-introduced ‘What is the picture’ competition.

Al-Marri thanked his family and friends as well as the organisers and trainers from HHC for guiding him throughout the tournament.  Al Shamsi also expressed his happiness for moving to the next round.

Results

The third episode of the elimination round saw the Youlah competition, refereed by Khalifa bin Sabeen, saw tight competition from the four Yuweels. But in the end, Al-Marri and Theyab Al-Nuaimi went above everyone with their superb footwork and skillful hands catching the replica rifle to score 25 points each.

Al Marri added 20 more points in the ‘What is the picture’ competition and also dominated the swimming competition held earlier at the Hamdan Sports Complex to claim 10 more points.

In Saktoun, both Zayed Al-Marri and Saeed Al-Shamsi were on target and garnered 15 markers each.

In Arabic poetry reading, judged by poet Muhammad Al-Murr Al-Abd, participants were asked to memorise and recite poems by the UAE’s Founding Father the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Both Theyab Al-Nuaimi and Zayed Al-Marri scored high in this competition

Saeed Al Shamsi and Zayed Al Marri pulled away in the camel race with a one-two finish and earned 20 points each.

Strong focus

Nathalie Awadissian, HHC Director of Radio Stations Department, Media and Communication, and Head of the Organising Committee for HHC Championships, commended the yuweels for their strong showing during the competition. She added intense training and preparation were the key in their strong performance. She also encouraged the qualifiers to continue their training and maintain their strong focus in the competition.

The third episode of the elimination round was broadcast live over Sama TV Dubai and Al-Oula Radio 107.4 FM. Marshan bin Noman al-Kaabi, who was the episode’s guest, commended HHC for organising the annual heritage competition and for instilling a strong sense of cultural affinity to the young Emiratis.

Episode 4

The fourth round of elimination will take place on Friday, December 30, at 9pm.