Syria has been scoring gold at the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat.
ADVERTISEMENTSyria has been scoring gold at the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat.
Thirty-year old Majd Eddin Ghazal set a record in the men’s High Jump category.
A former London World Championship bronze winner, he said it was important for him to represent his country at the Games.
“It’s a big challenge for Syrian people and for sportsmen coming here or to any competition to get the medals, because you know the situation now in Syria. I’ve won about 12 medals for my country between the Asian Games, the World Championship and the Diamond League, so I am very happy about that. I want to send a message to the whole world that Syria is still alive,” he told Euronews.
Whether from China or Taiwan, Pakistan or India, Japan or North Korea – in Ashgabat athletes share the same venues and the same sporting values.
According to Mowafak Jomaa, President of Syrian Olympic Committee: “Sport sends a message of love and peace between nations. What we see after any competition is two players who both fought for the same medal congratulate each other at the end. And that’s how the athletes really feel.”
The Indoor Athletics are now over, but competitions continue in sports like dance and bowling at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games until September 27.