With eyes full of confidence and a dream that knows no impossibility, Sharjah Individual Sports Club player Dhiyab Issa Abdullah Al Shmeili is taking his first steps towards a promising future in taekwondo, having been crowned Best Player in the Cubs category for the 2025–2026 sporting season by the UAE Taekwondo Federation.
Although he is just 9 years old, Dhiyab Al Shmeili — a black belt holder — speaks the language of champions, setting his sights on Olympic podiums and raising the UAE flag at the world's greatest sporting events.
Al Shmeili said that this title had given him greater motivation to continue training and put in more effort, stressing that the success he had achieved was not accidental but the result of discipline, determination, and the unwavering support of his family and coaches.
He added: "I feel happy and proud that I was able to win the gold medal in every tournament I participated in during the season, as well as the gold at the School Games, with the exception of one tournament in which I won silver. These results make me even more eager to achieve greater things in the future."
He explained that his taekwondo journey began in the Beginners category, where he stepped onto the podium for the first time by winning a gold medal, before going on to shine in the Cubs category, claiming gold at two international tournaments held in the Sultanate of Oman, in addition to being selected as the most talented player in the Cubs category.
His mother, Khuloud Al Dahmani, confirmed that Dhiyab's passion for sport and love of training had been apparent from the very beginning, noting that his true dream is to one day stand on international and Olympic podiums.
She said: "I felt immense pride watching him be crowned Best Player in the Cubs category. This achievement is the fruit of his hard work and determination, and I hope he continues steadily on his path until he realises all his sporting dreams." She concluded by extending her thanks to the UAE Taekwondo Federation, the coaches, and everyone who contributed to her son's development, wishing him further success in his future career.
As Dhiyab Al Shmeili strides confidently towards the future, his dreams appear larger than his age and his determination greater than any challenge, with Olympic gold remaining the goal that accompanies every training session and every bout he contests on the road to glory.