As a result, Nada became the first Arab woman to compete in archery in the 14th Asian Games in 2002; she is also hailed as the first female Arab rally driver. Not surprisingly, she was selected as a torchbearer to carry the Olympic flame in the UK, as it made its way to London in 2012.
Nada’s achievements coupled with her good looks have also taken her down the glamorous path of being a brand ambassador of famous products. “I’ve always chosen my own path and nobody pushed me towards anything”, says Nada whose claim to fame lists several accomplishments. These include:
Archery
l Gold medallist at the Open Archery Championships, Malta, 2006
l Winner of the Heir Apparent’s Cup in Archery, 2005
l Winner of the Qatar National Archery Championships, 2006
l Represented Qatar in 2002 in Busan, South Korea
l Competed in Asian Games in 2006 in Doha
Rallying
l Winner of the Middle East Rally Championship, Dubai in 2004
l Winner of the Ladies Cups Middle East Rally Championships in Lebanon and Syria, 2004
l First woman rally driver in the region to take part in even one leg of the World Rally Championship
Speaking to Community, Nada Zeidan the now semi-retired, mother of a little girl talks about her past successes and challenges while revealing her plans for a comeback.
What brought you to Qatar?
I was born in Lebanon; my father is of Yemeni origin and my mother is Turkish. I was just four when my father moved to Qatar to take up employment in 1979, a period when the civil war in Lebanon was escalating.
You are a person of varied interests; tell us about your activities. What was your favourite?
It was at a time when many girls were reluctant to take up sports seriously that I entered the arena and made my presence felt by becoming an archer and rally driver. I also pursued horse riding and taekwondo as hobbies and have been keenly involved in swimming as part of my fitness regimen.
Besides sports, I was associated with charity work through my association with Qatar Foundation’s Reach Out To Asia (Rota) and was a brand ambassador for Swiss watchmakers — Milus, for two years.
It is difficult for me to single out one activity as my favourite as I enjoyed them all. Nobody forced me to do any of it. I chose to do each of them because of my passion for them. I am the kind of person who wants to do what I like.
You were considered the leading sportswoman in the Arab world. How do you feel about it?
When I took up archery in 2001 and rally driving in 2004, these were considered male dominated sports and that posed several challenges. In those days there weren’t too many girls from the region taking part in sports. There were a couple of girls from Bahrain, the UAE and even Saudi Arabia, who came into sports around the same time; but they all faded away fast. I was virtually ploughing a lone furrow for the women of this region. But it had its advantages. During the 2006 Asian Games, my images were all over the town as I was projected as an iconic sportswoman.
Tell us about your foray into archery.
Somewhere at the back of mind, I always had a desire to join the army, to serve in the medical field. However my mother didn’t encourage me in that area and I didn’t pursue that dream.
Meanwhile, I had always had a fascination for shooting and archery. One day I was watching a TV programme on Qatar’s Archery Team for men and was inspired by it. Since the same national federation managed archery and shooting, I approached them hoping to begin training in shooting. They however, directed me to archery, and asked me to watch the men’s team, as they practised. Watching the archers propel their arrows kindled an interested in archery and the rest is history.
However, it wasn’t easy. I’ve had my fair share of challenges to face as I stepped into the world of archery. I had to overcome the not-so encouraging attitude of the male archers and their reluctance to accept a woman into their sport.
How about rally driving?
Again, it was my desire and determination to overcome challenges that took me to rallying, which is still considered a male bastion. At a time when only women in certain professions were encouraged to get driving licences I was already taking part in a rally! But I think my stepping into the rallying world helped change certain misconceptions about women and now I am happy to see many young girls and women in Qatar driving around.
In the midst of being so keenly involved in sports and being a brand ambassador, you also worked as a nurse. What kindled that interest?
After my secondary education I graduated in nursing. From my childhood days I have always wanted to help and serve people. Memories of the civil war in Lebanon only strengthened my resolve to become a nurse. Even as a nurse, I wanted to handle the more challenging tasks and, as a result, I opted to work in the Operation Theatre at the Hamad Hospital. I worked in this capacity from 1994 until 2007 when I became the head nurse for the maxillofacial team. In 2009, I went on to join Aspetar as the Manager of Athletes Relations.
You have been in semi retirement for the past few years. Why?
I got married in 2014 and took a break. I became a mother in 2015 and my daughter Ayoon is now 1-1/2 years old. Like any mother, I am proud of this role. I want to be a responsible, loving, and caring mother, like my own mom was and want to help my daughter become a successful person.
Are you planning for a comeback to sports and public life?
Yes, I am looking for an opportunity to come back to sports. I believe I can compete in archery and rallying for a few more years. Physically and mentally, I am ready. But I first need the support from the sports federations, and then, a sponsor. I want to prove that motherhood is not a hindrance for a woman to come back into active and competitive sports.
Of course, I want to be in public life, as a mentor — inspiring young Qatari girls to take up sports and shed their inhibitions. I have a desire to set up an Archery Academy too, provided I receive backing from the authorities.
Things aren’t that easy now as the current scenario isn’t all that encouraging. I am also willing to take up a job that will suit me and match my experience.
Can you share with us the most inspiring incident of your life?
The reason I was inspired to take up a job in nursing and to serve people was the result of an incident that happened when I was four. I still have memories of my younger sisters and me being taken by a distant relative to a hospital in Lebanon for vaccination. Suddenly, there was a bomb alert and as everyone began to panic and flee, that aunty came quickly to our rescue; she hid us in a small room and protected us acting like a human shield.
What was the most frightening incident in your life?
I don’t get frightened easily, but I was involved in a road accident in 2001 that scared me a bit. My vehicle was hit by another car, which then toppled on the highway. I could see a little boy inside the other car, along with his driver and maid. Thankfully, the emergency medical team and police rushed to the spot and all three were shifted to the hospital immediately. I was scared until I reached the hospital and learned for myself all three were out of danger.
Lessons learnt in life…
There is no short cut to success.
I have also learnt to love people and not things, because when you go from this world you don’t take anything with you, but if you can leave good memories behind, that’ll be your greatest legacy.
Anything else you would like to add?
I want to tell the new generation of Arab women to believe in themselves and their abilities. If I have been able to achieve so much, overcoming many challenges and odds, I am sure the next generation can do much better.
