WELCOME MESSAGE
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ound two at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA was another sublime day of golf and has left the tournament perfectly poised as we head into moving day. The Championship Village was a picture of glitz and glamour as women from across the UAE turned up to take part in the annual ‘best dressed competition’. Judged by a selection of high-class fashionistas, the victor won two business class flights to any Etihad destination, one nights stay for two at the Shangri La, Qarayat plus spa vouchers and the wonderland brunch. The first leg of the inaugural E-Tour competition also proved to be a phenomenal success. Eight competitors representing America, Germany, Spain, Brazil and Romania took part in an exhilarating battle with the eventual champion claiming the $10,000 first prize. As per the first two days, there are a multitude of activities taking place today in the Village. The HSBC Future Falcons, an initiative that aims to inspire and engage young children to be the next generation of golfing talent in the UAE, will get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to take part in a Pro-Am round with several
His Excellency Aref Al Awani General Secretary, Abu Dhabi Sports Council
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f you’re joining us for the first time this year, a warm welcome to you and if you’re returning, welcome back for what has been a thrilling Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA so far. This week it’s been great to see two graduates of one of our junior golf programmes perform so well – 24-year-old Haotong Li and 19-year-old amateur, Yuxin Lin, both opened with under par scores and, as I write this, Haotong is nestled in the upper reaches of the leaderboard. When we set up the CGA-HSBC China Junior Golf Program over a decade ago, this is exactly what we were aiming for – building a sustainable longterm structure and framework for the future of Chinese golf. Things are really heading in the right direction. That same ambition underpins all the grassroots golf initiatives we support as a bank. Here in Abu Dhabi, we have invested in the future of UAE golf with our very own HSBC Future Falcons Junior Golf Programme, which has made a real impact in the region by getting young people involved in golf. The HSBC Future Falcons is a programme which has a focus on guiding children on their first steps in
abudhabichampionship.com
Abdulfattah Sharaf Chief Executive Officer of HSBC UAE
professionals, having already had the chance to play alongside world No.1 Brooks Koepka and the talented Eddie Pepperell. Following the Pro-Am, the HSBC Future Falcons will join up with their relatives to compete in the inaugural family golf competition. The kids will undoubtedly be keen to win bragging rights against their mums and dads and crown themselves the best in the family. Due to popular demand, the Trick Shot boys are back again and will be starting at 11am. If you want to see the boys tee off from a unicycle, then the Championship Village is the place to be. The tournament is only possible with the support of all our partners whom I would like to thank, including HSBC, Emirates Global Aluminium, Rolex, Etihad Airways, Nike, Lincoln Motor Company and the wonderful Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri. Their constant support enables us to ensure that guests have an unforgettable experience, from the intimate spectator experience to the exceptional activities at the Championship Village. Enjoy your day with us.
the sport in a fun way. The programme has introduced nearly 80,000 children to the game of golf for the first time through hundreds of hours of coaching, with 95% of participants receiving their first taste of golf through the programme. This is why the HSBC Future Falcons programme is so important to us. A joint initiative with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC), the programme aims to educate, engage and inspire youngsters in a bid to unearth the next generation of UAE golfing talent. The programme has helped to establish the first schools golf league in the Emirate and, with an active programme in over 30 schools in Abu Dhabi, the future is bright. We are very proud of this and look forward to seeing young careers blossom in the years ahead – it won’t be long until some of our HSBC Future Falcons members are teeing-off alongside today’s golfing stars. If the HSBC Future Falcons Junior Golf programme has grabbed your attention and you are 4-16 years of age, head to the HSBC Fan Village where you can find out more information.