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RIYADH: The fifth Islamic Solidarity Video games wrapped up on Thursday in Turkey, and it has been a match of many highs for the competing Saudi athletes.
The Kingdom’s delegation on the delayed Konya 2021 received 24 medals in complete; two gold medals, 12 silver, and 10 bronze.
There was anticipated glory for Olympic silver medalist Tarek Hamdi within the karate competitors, whereas the monitor and area, weightlifting and desk tennis groups, amongst others, carried out to excessive requirements. And Saudi’s U-23 footballers took silver after narrowly shedding out to hosts Turkey within the remaining.
However maybe essentially the most poignant story of all is that of Ibrahim Al-Marzouki, the 15-year-old Paralympic athlete, who received Saudi’s first medal of the video games, taking bronze after ending third within the 50-meter butterfly remaining with a time of 49.12 seconds.
Not surprisingly, his younger profession has been one in every of overcoming adversity.
Regardless of a incapacity in his arms, {the teenager} has from a younger age believed that the unlikely might be achieved with sufficient persistence and fortitude.
“At first, my expertise was stunning for me, as a result of I confronted nice pressures and difficulties earlier than I might take part in tournaments,” Al-Marzouki mentioned. “However after this (medal), I’ve gained nice consolation in figuring out that I can obtain issues. After I face difficulties, I by no means hand over.”
What makes his achievement extra outstanding is simply how just lately he received into aggressive swimming.
“My begin was a few yr in the past,” he mentioned. “I went to the Riyadh Membership with a view to register with the soccer workforce. After that, the Saudi swimming nationwide workforce despatched a letter to the membership asking for younger males who might swim.
“Then my mom advised that I had a expertise for swimming.”
Al-Marzouki rapidly rose by the ranks by setting larger coaching benchmarks.
“I started coaching with mild swimming on the Affiliation of Individuals with Disabilities,” Al-Marzouki mentioned. “After that, I needed to sacrifice with a view to to achieve my targets.”
Having competed for Saudi Arabia at continental degree final yr, Al-Marzouki headed to Konya for the Islamic Solidarity Video games with modest expectations. He ended up shocking even himself.
“I didn’t really feel that I might obtain something,” he mentioned. “I didn’t count on that I might have the ability to full the journey, in comparison with the swimmers I used to be up in opposition to. They have been stronger than me, with a protracted historical past in swimming.”
Al-Marzouki has confronted many challenges over the previous 12 months earlier than claiming glory in Turkey.
At first his timings within the pool have been, in his personal phrases, “weak”, however he persevered, and his laborious work would ultimately bear fruit.
“My instances weren’t ok to qualify for any championship, however thank God I confronted this problem, educated tougher and put stress on myself after which I reached the place I’m as we speak.”
All through, the assist of his mom and father saved him going, he mentioned.
His first official participation for the Saudi Paralympic swimming workforce got here nearly 9 months in the past on the 2021 Asian Youth Para Video games in Bahrain, the place he took half in 5 classes, successful a gold and silver.
“I used to be very joyful,” he mentioned. “It’s regular that an individual rejoices. Even now, I’m pleased with that first participation. It’s true that I received in Turkey, however the pleasure of the primary championship is indescribable.”
After participating in Bahrain, Al-Marzouki instantly turned his consideration to Turkey.
“My day by day schedule was to proceed coaching for the Islamic Solidarity Video games,” Al-Marzouki mentioned. “I imagine that (Konya 2021) is harder than the Asian championship, and even after I had completed my coaching the opposite contributors have been nonetheless forward of me when it comes to preparation and commonplace.
“However thank God I confronted the difficulties and had the boldness in myself to attain the bronze.”
Al-Marzouki is grateful for the backing and a spotlight that Paralympic sports activities have obtained in Saudi Arabia lately, with new applications being established alongside these for able-bodied athletes.
The Saudi media too, the swimmer mentioned, have helped massively with their assist.
“The workout routines I endure are very powerful for me,” Al-Marzouki mentioned. “I used to coach with athletes with none incapacity and never from my class, so the workout routines have been very difficult however I used to be capable of adapt to them.”
Wanting forward, Al-Marzouki is already focusing on the 2024 Paralympic Video games in Paris.
“God keen, with willpower, laborious work and diligence, I’ll obtain the gold medal,” mentioned Al-Marzouki, who will solely be 17 then.
He praised the work of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee in serving to his growth, and specifically its president, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, for his assist.
“You’re a particular hero and we are going to shine the highlight on you since you deserve it,” Prince Abdulaziz mentioned after Al-Marzouki’s bronze in Turkey.
It’s a sentiment that each Saudi shares.
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