Yaaqoub Al Saadi led the UAE charge in the pool yesterday at the Hamdan Sports Complex, clocking 1:01.85 in the 100m backstroke heats.
The 16-year-old is the most promising young swimmer in the country, and after making his senior debut at the World Championships in Barcelona last month, managed to shave a full second off the timing he scored there.
Al Saadi was relocated from Al Ain last March along with five other swimmers to take part in the Residential Programme organised by the UAE Swimming Federation, which has brought together all the best young swimmers in the country to live and train together and attend school in Dubai.
It seems the move had slightly affected Al Saadi’s focus, but UAE national team coach, Ashraf Salah – who is also head coach at Al Ain Club where Al Saadi had been training – says his protégé seems to be back on track, following his recent dip in form.
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“Yaaqoub stood out the most today,” said coach Salah, who got a last-minute call-up to manage the national team on an interim basis, after the entire coaching staff was abruptly sacked two weeks ago.
“He didn’t get a PB but at least he swam his own record. His form had dropped a bit recently and he didn’t do his best in Barcelona, so I’m glad he’s back to swimming 1:01.”
Salah, who previously coached the UAE national team from 2000 to 2003 before taking over Al Ain Club’s swimming programme, will only be helping the UAE swimmers through the Junior Worlds and says he’s been focusing on mentally preparing the team for the competition.
“There’s not much you can do when you’ve only started with a team two weeks ago,” says Salah. “Which is why I’ve been focusing on the mental aspect, and trying to make sure they can bring their best during the championships.
“Yaaqoub’s improving and I think he can do well in the 200m backstroke, which is his signature event.”
Hamad Al Wahshi and Seif Almutawaa both swam personal records in the 100m breaststroke heats yesterday morning, while Hamdan Mohammed was two seconds off his personal best in the 100m backstroke.
Egypt’s Ahmed Abbas gave the strongest Arab performance so far in the meet, missing out on a place in the 400m freestyle final by just 0.42 seconds to place ninth amongst 56 swimmers. He is expected to cause a stir in the 1500m on day four.
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