‘Qatari competitors progressing well’
THE Qatar Swimming Association (QSA) has been taking a lot of efforts to nurture the sport in the country. Its grass-roots-level initiatives have now started producing results, with competitors doing well at the regional and continental levels.
Qatar had fielded 12 youngsters — Abdullah Al Yahri, Waleed Rafeeq Dalloul, Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Abdulrahman Khalid Al Kuwari, Omar Hisham, Noah Al Khulaifi, Hassan Abdulaziz Al Obaidly, Abdulla Musallam Al Nabit, Abdulla Mohammed Aboughazala, Abdulrahman Hisham Mohammed, Firas Mourad Saidi and woman swimmer Nada Mohammed Wafa Arakji — at last week’s FINA/airweave World Cup in Doha.
Though their performances did not have much to write home about, QSA President Khaleel Al Jabir was confident some of them could make the Olympic cut in a few years.
“They’re all still very young and I’m not sure any of them can directly qualify for next year’s Rio Olympics. But since FINA gives wild cards, I expect at least one of them to be in Brazil,” said Al Jabir.
“But we’re doing everything to help build them into future stars. In the coming years, our swimmers won’t be looking for wild cards in the Games. Some of them have the potential to directly qualify,” he said.
