By Xinhua
Shanghai : Palestinian athlete Fidaa Abuhaj has finally made her way to Shanghai for the Special Olympics with her delegation.
“My sister got married just one day before I left for Shanghai, but I was busy with the training and did not attend her wedding,” Fidaa said. “I will do my best in the games to bring prizes to her as a wedding gift.”
The 22-year-old Ramallah girl wore a shy smile on her face, with the brown curl and pure bright eyes adding to her charm.
Selected by the Palestinian Special Olympics a year ago, Fidaa trained in Tulkaram, 80 km away from her home. The Special Olympics being held here from Oct 2-11 are for the mentally challenged.
“It took four hours for her to reach that place every time as there are too many checkpoints on the way,” said head coach Maroof Shtara, who also lives in Ramallah.
Fidaa joined the training only a year ago and will take part in the 100m and 200m races here.
“The situation in Palestine affected the training a lot,” head of the delegation Nizar Basalat told the press. “Our Special Olympics movement began in 1995, and we now have 1,500 athletes. However, they had no regular training from 2000 to 2005.”
“Despite of the difficulties, we took part in the 1999 Terrell Summers Games and the 2003 Dublin Summer Games, and Shanghai is our third games,” said Basalat.