The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) has concluded the April 2021 edition of the Instagram Photo Contest, Sports - Action. Five winners were announced for the competition, which received submissions under the hashtag #HIPAContest_Sports. The contest winners hailed from; Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Indonesia and Turkey.

HIPA Secretary General, Ali bin Thalith said, “In recent times, sports fans the world over have had to sit out from being able to attend their favorite sporting event due to the pandemic, but we are hopeful and have seen the tides of change coming through.  Healthy competition and supporting our team has always created a dynamic element to every sport; and photography has always been there to not only capture but fuel the spirit of competition. Sports photography requires both a keen eye and formidable shooting skills, which all our winners displayed.  As always, we invite all our participants to continue persevering and participating in upcoming editions to achieve their own personal win.”

Our winner from Kuwait YOUSEF MANSOUR AL QALLAF @qallaf99 said, “The photo was taken of kitesurfing, which has increased in popularity recently in Kuwait. On this day I was in a new location that has become a popular amongst fans of the sport. It was an opportunity for me as a sports photographer to try new techniques; for this photo, I used the panning technique.

This is not my first win, but winning one of the ‘HIPA’ contests has its own difficulty and significance; it gives me more presence and exposer amongst photography communities. Photography is my passion and I deal with it with all my senses.”

IBRHIM MOHAMMED ASIRI @aseeri_photographer, our winner from Saudi Arabia said, “I took the photo at the Dakar Rally, and during this distinguished sporting event there was a challenge between my photography colleagues and I; which raised the intensity of competition and the desire excel.

I am very happy to win a competition named after His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. Winning in this contest will support my photography journey and raise my profile. My ambitions have no limits and I aspire to be  one of the best photographers in the world.”

Beawiharta @beawiharta, our winner from Indonesia said, “I took the photo in the semi-final match of the Asian Games in Jakarta 2018. My focus was on how the player’s eyes react with the ball, but my lens was only a 400mm. I decided to crop my photograph because I could not get any closer to the player during the match.

This is my first win in a contest on social media and I am very happy. I think photos should tell stories and that’s my focus when I shoot. I also feel that the medium of social media is supportive to a photographer’s profile, so I hope that winning in this Instagram competition increases my exposure amongst the photography community.”