• Mohammed Abdullah bin Dalmook has unseated defending champion Juma Obaid Al Ali in the quarterfinals

 

Dubai, 23 January 2021: It was a tough competition till the end but Mohammed Abdullah bin Dalmook displayed consistency and top form to emerge victorious en route to grabbing the third ticket to the semi-final round called Golden Square of the 21st edition of the Fazza Championship for Youlah.

 

Organised by Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Centre (HHC) and held on Friday at the Heritage Village inside Dubai’s Global Village, Mohammed Abdullah bin Dalmook scored 70 points to eliminate last year’s winner and defending champion Juma Obaid Al Ali.

 

Bin Dalmook will join Hamid Al-Razi Al Shamsi and Mohammed Salem bin Daghash Al Ameri in the semi-final and only one Yuweel (youlah performer) is awaited to complete the Golden Square.

 

Youlah, which is part of the UAE’s intangible cultural heritage, is a very technical sport that requires great skills. Aside from spinning the rifle and tossing it in the air between 17-20 metres, the Yuweels are also obliged to make sure that their ghutra (traditional headgear) will not fall to avoid point deduction. But this year, competitors are also tested by their skills in horse and camel riding, Saktoun rifle shooting, and traditional poetry.

 

High level of competition

Nathalie Awadissian, chairman of the Organising Committee of the Fazza Championship for Youlah and HHC Director of Radio Stations Department, Media and Corporate Communication, said: “This season, contestants who qualified have been empowered in various heritage competitions and have shown great merit and enthusiasm. The new voting app Al Meydan has enhanced the voting system and limited to a one time vote, thus allowing Emiratis to excel in the other heritage competitions to gain points.”

 

She noted all participants have shown great desire to learn all aspects related to UAE heritage sport. “This is a positive sign that the Emirati culture will be passed on to the largest possible number of future generations.”