World Champion Mouza receives warm welcome in Abu Dhabi

In a scene befitting the magnitude of the UAE’s latest sporting triumph, the Diamond Lounge at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport hosted an official reception for the Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club delegation and amateur world champion Mouza Nasser Alshamsi, following her victory and gold-medal at the World Amateur Chess Championship (U1700W) held in Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia.

Welcoming the delegation were Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Sultan Bin Shakhbout Al Nahyan, Chairman of Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club; Saeed Al Muhairi, Executive Director of Sports Sector Development at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council; counselor Youssef Al Afreet Al Kuwaiti, Board Member and Club Treasurer; Hisham Al Taher, Managing Director and CEO; and Dr. Saif Al Nuaimi, Vice President of the UAE Chess Federation.

 The reception came in celebration of the honorable global achievement accomplished by the Emirati champion, who became the first Arab and Gulf female player to win an individual title in the World Amateur Chess Championships after outperforming players from Kazakhstan, India, and several other countries.

During the reception, Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Sultan bin Shakhbout Al Nahyan affirmed that the victory represents a bright milestone in the club’s and Emirati chess’s journey, noting that Mouza Nasser Alshamsi is a role model for the nation’s youth and Al Ain Club’s players.

He said:“What Mouza has achieved reflects an honorable image of the people of the UAE and embodies the values we strive to instill at Al Ain Club. We followed her participation moment by moment, sharing the tension of the decisive moments. This proves that we at Al Ain Club work as one family sharing ambition and achievement. This victory is the result of collective effort and a supportive sports environment that nurtures national talents and helps them reach the world stage.”

Saeed Al Muhairi, Executive Director of Sports Sector Development at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, also praised this achievement, stressing that it reflects the strength of the sports ecosystem in the UAE. He said:

“Mouza’s victory at the World Amateur Championship reflects the vision of our wise leadership in empowering national talents and providing them with an environment that enables success at the highest international levels.”

For his part, Youssef Al Afreet Al Kuwaiti, Board Member and Treasurer of Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club, expressed his pride in the accomplishment, congratulating the nation’s leadership and the club’s family.

He noted that the victory represents a significant milestone in the club’s journey and in mind sports in the UAE.

He said: “We are proud of what Mouza has achieved. This accomplishment reflects the professional standards by which the club operates and confirms that the people of the UAE are capable of reaching top global positions.”

Sultan Abdullah Al Areef Al Dhaheri, Chairman of Al Ain Youth Council – ICMG, also expressed his emotions during the awarding ceremony in Serbia, saying: “One of our most beautiful moments in Serbia was the awarding ceremony… My eyes nearly filled with tears as I watched our beloved nation’s flag rise above countries larger than us in land and population. I cannot describe my feelings when our national anthem was played as we took first place ahead of the world’s nations. It is undoubtedly a source of pride and a humble gift we offer to our wise leadership and our beloved country.”

Mouza expressed her appreciation for the grand official reception, confirming that the honor motivates her to continue working hard and achieving more successes.

She said: “I dedicate this achievement to the nation, its leadership, Al Ain Club, and my family. I will continue striving to raise the UAE flag in more international arenas.”