Sheikha Maitha feels privileged

The UAE's sports-loving princess, Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, made her Olympic debut at the Beijing Games and her attempt at winning UAE's only medal of the Games was stopped by a brave loss to a two-time world taekwondo champion.

Sheikha Maitha lost 5-1 to Hwang Kyung-Seon of South Korea, and was not disheartened by the defeat, which also included receiving a kick in the head by her opponent.

The 28-year-old said after her match: "I'm pretty hard headed. It doesn't bother me at all. I'm pretty used to it. I'm a tough girl. Don't worry.

"Participating in the Olympics... it's a dream and a nightmare at the same time. I couldn't wait until it was going to happen. And now I can't believe it's over."

The pony-tailed brunette, beaming broadly, bearing no mark from the fight and glowing with perspiration, was confronted by several television crews and a horde of reporters after the bout.

"I think I performed well for what my background is and my experience," she said, adding she was "fortunate and privileged" to face the world champion.

She scored her first Olympic point in an exchange of effective kicks in the first round. "I didn't know I scored. I was just concentrating on my opponent.

"I've learned a lot and next time I'll try and close the gap between me and her."

Hwang, a fourth-year student at the Korea Sports Univeristy, said: "As a princess, it must be very difficult for her to play taekwondo, but she keeps training. So I have great respect for her."

As Hwang reached the final, Sheikha Maitha was given a spot in the second-chance round of losers for bronze medals. But she was overpowered 4-0 by Croatia's Sandra Saric.

The princess has been seen as an affirmative role model for Arab women in modern times. She already made history here when she became the first Gulf woman to carry a flag at an Olympics opening ceremony.

Martial arts came into her life at the age of 20 after she spent her teen years riding horses. Her father, His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is a karate blackbelt and she followed him into the sport.

Four years later, she also started practicing taekwondo and won a silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. She was named the Arab Athlete of the Year in 2007.

The princess finished ninth at the world taekwondo championships in Beijing last year and plans to take part in the world championships in karate in November.

"I love sports. I love athletes. I love what sportsmanship represents, the value of sports," she said.

"Just win or lose. It's very fair. There's no class, you know. Everyone is equal. You're on your merit."

She said she hoped to be competing when the 2012 London Olympics come around. "I think, fingers crossed," she said. "I'll be old, but I hope so."

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