Iraqi shuttlers overcome odds at home
By Azaraimy HH
Battered streets and back alleys are usually their training courts, sounds of machinegun fires they are used
to, they avoid areas where troops patrol.
These are just routine for young Iraqi shuttlers honing their badminton skills.
The Bulletin spoke to young Mohammad Othman Saad, Haider Muhdi Bash, Mostfaa Hassan Uldeen, Adrah
Kalid Risad and Ians Kalid, who are in Brunei taking part in the Asia Youth Badminton U-16 Championship
2008.
"We are so happy and very honoured to be here in this beautiful country, and to play with all the champions,"
said Haider Muhdi Bash, the talkative of the bunch during the interview.
All of them, under 16, grew under some 10 years of economic blockade and unexplainable suffering caused
by war, social insecurity and unrest, to name but a few.
Besides all the perils shadowing their every move, with strong will and determination, they and the rest of the
other Iraqi athletes have been training hard.
"Limitations?" asked Mazin Hadi Kazer Altaie, President of the Iraq Badminton Federation when asked about
what limitations they have in Iraq with regards to training.
"Before the war, at least we had an appropriate venue, but today we trying to make do with whatever we
have. The kids, they usually train themselves on the streets," he said.
Fifteen-year-old Haider said, "I don't want to say it, but we all want this 'occupation' to end."
Although the games have not turned out well for all the young shuttlers, they look satisfied and excited,
cheering every team that wins, always on their feet clapping hands as they watch each game even though
none of their team mates are playing.
"We are just so happy to be here, we want to sit down and enjoy the game with our friends coming from
different countries, this makes us forget the war back home." Taken from Borneo Bulletin Online, Local news August 8,2008.
--- How nice.
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