(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) UAE celebrated its 46th National Day on Saturday with pomp and pageantry. And while Emiratis and Expats, both exchanged greetings and good wishes, miles away - in distant Leverkusen (Germany) - there was a six-year-old Emirati girl making the country proud.
Yes, Lamia Tariq Malallah Al Farsi has once again done wonders for her country. The little lass bagged the silver medal in the Rhythmic Gymnastics event for the TSV Bayer Winter Cup.
Lamia withstood stiff competition from 26 girls from over 17 countries in the A category (it's the toughest competition in Rhythmics Gymnastics) to finish with 8.75 points.
Elene Bakradze, of Georgia, topped the event by winning the gold medal and Anna Keller, of Germany, claimed the bronze.
Being the only UAE national at the event and with the pressure of performing well on UAE's National Day, Lamia came out with flying colours.
However, for someone who has won gold medals before, she was upset on not winning one on her country's auspicious day.
Speaking exclusively to Khaleej Times from Germany, Lamia's mother Malak said:"She has always won gold so she is upset on finishing second, but it was a tough competition as there were seniors involved but thanks to her coach - former world champion Ksenia Dzalaghaniya - she did well," added Malak.
Lamia had won gold in the Emirates Cup in May and then went on to win her first-ever international gold two months later in the Senior B category of the 4th Open GR Azur International Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament which was held in La Colle Sur Loup, Nice.
Malak said she was proud of Lamia.
"We are extremely proud of our daughter for beating all odds and competing in the A Level against strong contenders and winning silver what with the pressure of knowing it is National Day.
"By winning silver medal we are making our country's flag fly high in front of an international audience and the world who were watching us," added Malak.
Malak says her daughter has set her sights on winning a gold medal at the 2023 Youth Olympic Games.
The way Lamia is going there is no reason why she can't achieve her dream.
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