Barshim awarded Arab Sporsman of the Year

23 year old Mutaz Essa Barshim was awarded the Arab Sportsman of the Year award and said it would motivate him to achieve more success and inspire the younger generation to become professional sportsmen. The track and field star won the coveted award at an Arab Sports Press Association Referendum Ceremony for the best Athlete and Best Arab Team for the year of 2014. Among the contenders for the prestigious title were Tunisian swimming giant Oussama Mellouli and Horse racing showjumper Abdelkebir Ouaddar of Morocco but Barshim was about to surpass them both.

Qatar’s Barshim clinches Arab Sportsman of the Year award

BY ARMSTRONG VAS

Doha: Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim said that the Arab Sportsman of the Year award would motivate him to achieve more success and also inspire the younger generation to become professional sportsmen.

Speaking to reporters after collecting his award from Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), and officials of the Arab Sports Press Association — the World Indoor Champion in high jump said: “I feel great. I am happy that I won this award. It will give me more motivation to do better in the future. I didn’t except to win the award. I did not know about this ceremony until a friend reminded me two days back.”

The Qatari track and field star bagged the coveted award at a glittering Arab Sports Press Association Referendum Ceremony for the Best Athlete and Best Arab Team for the Year of 2014, organised by Arab Sports Press Association and hosted by the Qatar Sports Press Committee yesterday.

“It’s a special feeling to come here and win the award, and see people appreciate and love what I am doing. Awards like this will give me more motivation to do better and I hope also it will inspire the younger generation to take part in sports in the entire Arab region too,” Barshim added.

The 23-year-old said there are a lot of talented players in the region and appreciated the lead taken by the Sports Press Association is honouring sports personalities from the region.

“Media plays a big role, sport rise with talented people,” said the 2012 London Games bronze medallist.

Tunisian handball star Mona Al Sabah clinched the Best Arab Sportswoman of Year Award while Algeria claimed the

Best Arab Sports Team award based on their performances in 2014.

Barshim overshadowed Tunisian swimming great Oussama Mellouli and Horse racing showjumper Abdelkebir Ouaddar of Morroco, who were among the contenders for the prestigious title.

Popular archer Fatimah Almashhadaani, named Athlete of the Year for 2013 by a panel from the Iraqi Olympic Committee last year, was also part of the list which included names like Egyptian javelin thrower Ihab Abdelrahman El Sayed and Mariam Jamalelldein of Bahrain.

Qatar’s handball coach Valero Rivera Lopez was given a special award for his contribution to the development sports in the country.

Hosts Qatar, under the stewardship of Lopez, finished runners-up to France at the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship held from January 15 to February 1.

Earlier, Sheikh Saoud shed light on the development of Qatar as one of the top sport destinations of the world with more than 90 sports events and conferences scheduled to be held in Qatar this year.

Besides the regional and local events, the sports calendar released by the Qatar Olympic Committee features 53 international sports events, while more than 80 events were held last year.

The QOC General Secretary outlined some of the major championship which Qatar will host in the coming years.

“Qatar Boxing Federation (QBF) will host the AIBA World Boxing Championships from October 8 to 18 this year. The UCI Road World Championships will be held next year and in 2017 the bowling championship will take place in Qatar,” Sheikh Saoud

“In 2018, the top gymnasts will be here for the World Championship and the following year the World Athletics Championships will take place in Doha. After Olympics and World Cup, World Athletics Championships is the third biggest event,” said the QOC official.

Sheikh Faisal bin Ahmed Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Sports Press Committee, Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, noted sports journalists Jaber Al Harami and Issa bin Abdulla Al Hitmi were among those present during the ceremony.

Also present on the occasion were other board members of the Arab Sports Press Association, including Mohammed Abdulaziz Turki Al Subae, Mohammed Hamad Al Hanzab Al Marri, Mubarak Al Boainin, Khalid Jassem, Mohammed Lozain Al Marri and Dr Mohammed Awada.

THE PENINSULA