By Gary Anderson

November 9 - Nashwa Al Kindi (second from left) has been awarded the prestigious ISAF President Development Award in MuscatOman's Nashwa Al Kindi has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to female sailing in her home country by being awarded the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) President Development Award at the world governing body's Annual Conference in Muscat.


The special award recognises outstanding achievement in the development of sailing, and Al Kindi was chosen as a result of her coaching and development work with national governing body, Oman Sail, which has seen the 31-year-old become the first woman to complete an Oman Sail senior instructor's course.

Al Kindi then went on to organise and oversee the selection programme for a group of Omani women instructors for the new Oman Sail school, which will open in Sur next year.

Prior to that, Al Kindi was one of 30 women to complete a six-month training programme in 2010, before going onto to be chosen as the Oman Sail Female Instructor of the Year in 2012.

"Rarely do the people that make a difference in sailing receive the recognition that they deserve for their efforts," said ISAF President Carlo Croce.

"This year I have been made aware of the hard work, passion and dedication of Nashwa Al Kindi right here in Oman.

"I am sure that with her spirit and determination, this is not the last part of her story."

ISAF President Carlo Croce praised the passion and dedication of Al Kindi to female sailing in Oman upon presenting her with the special awardISAF President Carlo Croce praised the passion and dedication of Al Kindi to female sailing in Oman upon presenting her with the special award




























Al Kindi, still takes part in racing events herself, and will be competing in the 2013 Muscat to Khasab Bank of Beirut Chairman's Cup, which is due to get underway tomorrow.

In April of this year, Al Kindi attended the ISAF Development Symposium in Muscat, where she made a special presentation on the importance of empowering women in sport, particularly in the marine industry, to promote and encourage greater participation and retention.

"It means a lot to me because I work very hard and my hard work is appreciated, not only in my country and Oman Sail but from ISAF and that gives me great encouragement," said Al Kindi upon receiving her award.

"I'm looking forward to achieving more.

"It's an honour.

"Right now I'm every year, from training to offshore so I'm still trying to discover what I want to concentrate on but I'm very interested in offshore sailing and that will be my next step."

The 2013 ISAF Annual Conference continues in Muscat through until November 16 and to keep up-to-date a daily live blog can be accessed by clicking here.

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