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Adil Khalid gears up for Rio Olympics

Dubai - UAE national Khalid, 27, has already represented his country at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the Laser class, the category in which he is competing in Abu Dhabi.

 Adil Khalid, the first Arab to sail around the world, hopes to win the UAE National Sailing Championships this weekend as he revs up for the Rio Olympics.
UAE national Khalid, 27, has already represented his country at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the Laser class, the category in which he is competing in Abu Dhabi.
"As a local sailor, it is always an honour to sail on home waters and in your own championship," he says. "I hope to win the race and build up for future Gulf events. This is ideal training for the 2016 Olympics, which is always at the forefront of everything we do."
The Dubai-born sailor was part of the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (ADOR) crew that brought home the Volvo Ocean Race trophy in June this year, having first sailed in the round-the-world race when he was just 22.
"The sport has grown tremendously over the years," Khalid says. "Everyone loves the water and we are blessed to be surrounded by it in the UAE.
"This is a leading competition with participation from across the GCC, and hopefully it will grow over the years. You can see, from the number of sailors who enter, that they believe it to be a great championship to have on your CV. I expect another tough battle this year."
Khalid trains twice daily, in both the gym and the sea, ahead of major events. "We have to teach our bodies to endure days on a yacht, pulling a heavy load on a daily basis. The UAE National Sailing Championships is a single-man race so we don't pull as much weight, but you still have to train for the elements."