Heroes from the Emirates / success stories that do not know the impossible (1)

Abu Dhabi, May 22 / WAM / Emirati athletes in various games embodied exceptional examples of determination and ambition, and proved that sporting achievement is not related to circumstances as much as it is related to willpower and continuous work, after they succeeded in transforming challenges into inspiring success stories that raised the UAE flag in the largest continental and international forums.

This report comes in the context of a series of weekly reports to shed light on the stories of honorable sports role models, champions from the Emirates, who defied circumstances, endured difficulties, and achieved achievements that make them a source of inspiration for every diligent person who strives to raise his country’s flag on the podiums.

There is no doubt that behind every major sporting achievement and successful career is a long story of work and struggle, starting with a small dream that grows over time with the support of the family and sports institutions, until it turns into a reality that is written in the record of Emirati sports.

Emirati champion Abdullah Sultan Al-Ariani is considered one of the most prominent stars of sports for people of determination in the history of the Emirates, after he succeeded in writing his name in golden letters in the record of Paralympic participations, and was crowned with the gold medal in the 50-meter air rifle shooting competition “3 positions” at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, giving the UAE its first gold medal in that edition, and the fifth historically for sports of people of determination in Paralympic entries.

Al-Eryani’s career represents a comprehensive model of strong human will, as he did not allow his motor disability to limit his ambition since childhood, but rather dealt with challenges as an additional motivation to achieve success, believing that the impossible is just an idea that can be overcome with determination and work.

His passion for challenge was present in various details of his life, as he dreamed since childhood of driving a car despite using a crutch, and he was actually able to achieve that, confirming that a strong will is capable of overcoming any obstacle, before the major turning point in his life began in 1998, when he joined the sport of athletics at Al Ain Club, to begin his sporting journey that later led him to the sport of shooting, which made him a world and Paralympic champion.

In badminton, Emirati player Rayan Malhan stands out as one of the promising models that reflects the value of early work and great ambition, after he imposed himself as one of the most prominent rising talents at the Asian and international levels, relying on an intensive training program of up to 7 hours a day, as part of his continuous endeavor to develop his technical and physical level.

Rayan believes that talent alone is not enough to reach the top, and that true success is linked to discipline and continuity in work, so he is keen to invest every training session to enhance his readiness and achieve the required progress in the global rankings, within a clear vision aimed at competing at the highest levels.

Rayyan’s crowning of the Hungarian Championship and his ascension to the top of the world rankings in 2025 constituted a turning point in his sporting career, after this achievement gave him great confidence in his abilities, and additional motivation to continue developing and achieving more successes in the future.

Rayan has a clear goal in front of him, which is to climb to the podium at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which Africa is hosting for the first time, considering that winning an Olympic medal is a pivotal step in his sporting career, before moving on to the bigger goal of participating in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and achieving a new Olympic achievement for the UAE.

For her part, Salama Al Khatri presented an honorable model for Emirati women capable of combining academic excellence with sporting achievement, after she succeeded in building a distinguished career that made her one of the most prominent champions of people of determination in the country. She is a chemistry graduate from British universities, and at the same time an Asian champion in cycling, and a former badminton player.

Salama’s sporting journey began at school, when one of the coaches discovered her talent and directed her towards badminton, before she moved to the Dubai Club for People of Determination and played the game professionally, after which she joined the national team, achieving distinguished results in many tournaments.

Salama said that the major turning point came in 2023, when she decided to try cycling despite her motor disability resulting from a defect in the pelvis and a difference in the length of the feet, in addition to the difference in strength between the feet, after which she became the first Emirati athlete of people of determination to participate in the “2023 World Cycling Championships.”

Salama achieved a remarkable achievement by winning the gold in the Asian Championship in the time trial competition, then she continued to shine by winning the gold in the 42-kilometre road race in Thailand 2025, and she also won the silver in the 5-kilometer race, in the Asian Track Championships currently being held in the Philippines in 2026. The Asian Paralympic Council also chose her in 2023, to be Vice President of the Council.

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