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The Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF), in a bid to have its own women’s team at the 2016 UCI Road World Championships in Doha, has taken the first step in that direction. |
A 25-member developmental team, consisting mostly of riders between 13 and 21 years, was unveiled yesterday and has already begun training near the Losail International Circuit.
“We have been trying to start a women’s team since 2005, before the Doha Asian Games, but unfortunately couldn’t find an Arabic-speaking coach at that time. It was also difficult to bring a professional coach as we were thinking that it won’t be easy for her to establish a good rapport with the trainees. So due to all these obstacles, the plan did not work.
“But the younger generation has proved they don’t necessarily need Arabic coaches to do well. Now we’ve hired former Finnish rider Pia Sundstedt to train them. They’ve only recently begun training and have a long way to go. Our eventual aim is to have them ready for the world championship,” said QCF general secretary Majed al-Naimi.
Sundstedt is employed with Aspire currently but her credentials and big experience prompted the Qatar Cycling Federation to approach her and the former four-time Finnish national road race champion and expert mountain bike racer agreed to take up the challenge of building Qatar’s national team.
“I am having a fantastic time. They are young... the youngest one is 13 and the rest are in between 15 to 21. They are of the right age to start with. I am really excited,” said Sundstedt, who has 15 years of professional experience.
Taking about the potential of the girls, she said: “I have some good riders with me. They’re very talented and ambitious. Some of them have it in them to make it big.
“The children were training indoors for a while, but have moved outdoors now. They have to learn a lot and I have the feeling that they have the will to learn and that’s very important,” she added.
Some of the cyclists like Ramz Sbeitan (17 years), Salma Marey (16), Reem Sbeitan (13), Nermeen Ghounim (16), Rana Sbeitan (16) and Dana Othman Abuhejleh (16) were present when Al-Naimi unveiled the team yesterday.
“QCF board member Amani al-Dosairi has done a lot of hard work behind this project. Now the plan is to support the girls as much as possible. Then we’ll pick the national team. After further extensive training, we aim to take part in the Arab Road Racing Championship in September 2014,” Naimi said.
“We have started the team and one day, we’d like to see them on the podium. That will be our reward,” Naimi added.
Naimi said the QCF plans to enter the female team in the World Road Racing Championship, scheduled to be held in 2016 in Qatar.
“Also, we aim to compete in the 2016 World Championship with the national team. The Qatar Olympic Committee is supporting us. The QCF will also do its best for their preparations. We want them to put in their best and see where they finish,” Naimi added.
Qatar’s woman cycling team members pose with their coach Pia Sundstedt (6th from right) and Qatar Cycling Federation general secretary Majed al-Naimi.