By Rafiq Vayani
SHARJAH: Under the patronage of the Ministry of Sports, the UAE Committee for Talent and Sports Support (UAETSS) signed 3 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation to support the pathway of 3 promising athletes. The athletes include Fatima Al Suwaidi, an under-21 shooting athlete, and Mona Al Shara and Samiya Odinaeva, both under-18 archers. These MoUs strengthen collaborative efforts to unify talent development pathways. and advance the growth of women’s sports across the country.
The partnership is part of the Committee’s ‘Pathway for Sports Champion’ program, which aims to identify and nurture talented Emirati athletes across a range of sports.
It also supports the implementation of female athletes’ preparation plans, training, and competition programs, in coordination with the Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation and the technical staff, which enhance the players’ technical and physical capabilities, equipping them to compete at both national and international levels.
His Excellency Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Undersecretary for the Sports Development and Competitiveness Sector at the Ministry of Sports and Chairman of the UAETSS, signed the MoUs with Her Excellency Hanan Al Mahmoud, Vice Chairperson of the Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation. The ceremony was attended by the 3 athletes and their parents, along with officials from the Ministry of Sports and representatives of the Foundation.
H.E. Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum stated that the agreements mark an important step toward supporting and advancing female talent in individual sports. His Excellency emphasised that the initiative reflects the commitment of the Committee and its partners to expand opportunities for women in sports by creating an integrated environment that fosters skill development and enhances their competitiveness. H.E noted that these efforts align with the UAE leadership’s vision of empowering women across all sectors, especially sports.
His Excellency added: “Through these partnerships under the ‘Pathway for Sports Champion’ program, we are strengthening our commitment to developing promising athletes by providing them comprehensive development opportunities. Our goal is to guide talented athletes from the early stages of their sporting journey through to top-tier competitions, thus helping to prepare a new generation of female champions who can honourably represent the UAE and raise the national flag on international stages.”
The Ministry of Sports and the UAETSS praised the pioneering role of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Sharjah Supreme Council for Family Affairs, in establishing an integrated sports ecosystem that contributes to promoting sports among females, nurturing emerging talents, and supporting the development of female athletes capabilities within a professional environment capable of preparing them for competition and achievement. They affirmed that these efforts represent an important pillar for pathways aimed at identification and developing national talents in the country.
H.E. Hanan Al Mahmoud praised the Ministry of Sports and the UAE Committee for Talent and Sports Support for their continued efforts toward nurturing Emirati talent and strengthening collaboration across the national sports ecosystem. Her Excellency noted that the signing of the MoUs represents an important milestone in unifying national efforts and long-term development strategies for talented athletes. H.E. further stated that the partnerships will help create a coordinated framework for athlete support, ensuring sustainable development pathways that align with the technical plans of the Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation.
Her Excellency said: “At the Foundation, we follow a holistic development approach that is not limited to technical training; rather, it encompasses physical, technical, and psychological assessment, as well as nutrition and recovery, data and technology, and sustainability and governance—enabling an accurate reading of each athlete’s development pathway and the translation of performance indicators into actionable and trackable preparation plans.”
H.E. added: “These MoUs further strengthen coordination around those plans, while supporting the implementation of training programs, preparation camps, and competitions, in integration with the relevant national sports federations, ensuring clear development pathways and participation in training camps and championships, and supporting athletes’ readiness to represent national teams alongside performance monitoring, the submission of technical reports, and the activation of mental preparation pathways and specialized support when needed, and clearly defining the responsibilities of all stakeholders, including the Foundation, the Committee, and the technical teams.”
H
E. Hanan Al Mahmoud concluded: “The selection of three athletes from the Sharjah Women’s Sports Club in shooting and archery highlights the value of investing in emerging talent in sports that demand precision, discipline, and sustained performance.
Developing excellence in these disciplines requires cumulative preparation and continuous monitoring, beginning with talent identification and extending beyond mere participation to strengthen an athlete’s competitiveness and enable them to achieve success.”
Under the MoUs, the UAETSS provides the approved forms of support to the female athletes covered by the memoranda, including financial support for development programs and auxiliary services related to their athletic preparation pathway, in accordance with the committee’s approved regulations and mechanisms. The committee is also responsible for reviewing support requests submitted by the Foundation, evaluating technical plans and sports programs, monitoring the outcomes of the support and measuring its impact, periodically reviewing technical performance, and requesting necessary reports or information regarding athletes’ performance, attendance, health, and academic achievement when required.
In return, the Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation is responsible for official communication with the committee regarding the athletes, supervising the annual planning of training camps, competitions, and external participations in coordination with the relevant national sports federations and under their technical oversight.
It also monitors performance through local, regional, and international competitions; collects and analyzes performance and results data; prepares technical reports and recommendations; and integrates improvement opportunities into the athletes’ short, medium-, and long-term preparation plans.
The Foundation further commits to providing a comprehensive development system covering physical, technical, psychological, nutritional, and technological aspects, implementing mental preparation programs, submitting periodic reports, and coordinating with its affiliated specialized centers and technical teams to ensure sustainable development and enhance athletes’ competitive readiness.
Recently, the Committee signed several MoUs with emerging national athletes across a range of sports, including cycling, modern sailing, badminton, and other disciplines, as part of the ‘Pathway for Sports Champion’ program. This initiative reflects the Committee’s continued efforts to discover and develop promising talent in specialised sports, further enhancing the UAE’s competitive position at regional and international levels.