Sisters win silver in ADEK's Abu Dhabi sports championship

The Hayon sisters from Reach British School, who kicked their way to silver at the ADEK Abu Dhabi Sports Championship. Their journey of discipline and hard work is inspiring!

The Hayon sisters from Reach British School have secured silver medals in Taekwondo as part of ADEK’s Abu Dhabi Sports Championship for Schools and Universities.

The Abu Dhabi Sports Championship for Schools and Universities is a programme launched by  The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), brings together 26,000 students and aspiring athletes from schools in Abu Dhabi.

This programme includes 13 sports disciplines for boys and girls across multiple age groups and is open for all public, private and charter schools as well as universities giving them the platform to showcase their sporting talents in the spirit of friendly competition. 

This competition was something both sisters were proud of doing together. Anastasia, one of the sisters shared how they prepared for the competition and the discipline they practised. She said, “To get ready for the competition, we practised Taekwondo together almost every day after school. We had special training every Saturday only for this competition. We spar every Saturday; we kick a lot and we get kicked a lot too. Sometimes we get bruises and our legs are extremely tired but we always come back to class. We also made sure to eat healthy food and get enough sleep so we could be strong for the competition.

Angela, the other sister added, “Before the competition, we made sure to listen to my coach and follow all the advice about practising and staying healthy. During the competition, we focused on staying calm and remembering all the moves we learnt. We always remember our coach saying ‘Just keep kicking or you will be kicked’”.

Both sisters had put in lots of patience, dedication and hard work which made them achieve great success. They shared how winning made them feel proud and happy because all their hard work paid off. They also added that bringing pride to our school is the best part of this success as it feels like they did something special not just for them, but for all their friends and teachers too.

Anastasia and Angela shared a message of encouragement to all their friend and classmates who also want to excel in their passions saying, “We want to tell our friends at school that even if something feels hard, you shouldn't give up. Just do your best, learn, and most importantly have fun. If we can do it, you can do it too. Let's keep trying new things and cheering each other on!

Their parent also expressed how happy and proud they are of their daughters' achievements.

“We are very proud of both of them for their incredible dedication and hard work that led to winning the silver medal in Taekwondo. Many times we just take a deep breath to calm ourselves, watching them both train, do a hundred kicks, push up, do many sparring with others, come from training extremely tired. But our girls overcome every challenge with their determination and hard work, which are truly inspiring. This achievement is not just about the medal but the journey they’ve embarked on together, the discipline they’ve shown, and the resilience they have developed. They have not only brought pride to us as their parents, but also to their school, Reach British School.

To Reach British School, we extend our heartfelt thanks for providing an environment that helps my daughters not only with academic excellence, but also with physical and personal development. During PE, they did the physical exercises that made them strong, and learnt to  not give up easily. The support from the teachers, the encouragement from the coaches, and their friends has played a significant role in our daughters' journey. We are grateful for the opportunities our children have been given to grow, learn, and excel in their passions.”placeholder

Our Principal, Mr. Craig Halsall, also extends his sincere congratulations to Anastasia and Angela for their outstanding achievement. He highlights that their success in winning the silver medals and showcasing patience, dedication, and passion throughout the competition truly embodies the spirit of Reach British School.  

“Your inspiring journey acts as a guiding light for all students, encouraging them to strive for excellence in every field of learning. Once again, Congratulations, Anastasia and Angela, for bringing pride to our school. We also thank their parents for their unwavering support in their endeavours." Added Mr. Halsall.

At Reach British School, we believe in fostering a culture of ambition and empowerment among our students, and sport and PE is an important part of our curriculum.We inspire them to become confident, driven individuals who are prepared to succeed in the ever-evolving world around them.