Woman This Month Speaks with Bahrain’s Only Female Competitor at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Games
“I want to leave a mark behind me when I grow up; to be remembered as Bahrain’s Paralympic champion.”
With these words, Bahrain’s sole female competitor at the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Games, Rooba Al Omari, expressed her pride in representing the Kingdom for the second time at the prestigious global sporting event – competing this year in the discus throw F55 category.
The 2020 Tokyo Paralympics is scheduled to be held between August 24 and September 5 this year. Similar to the Olympic games, it was rescheduled from last year due to the global outbreak of COVID-19. Besides Rooba, the Kingdom of Bahrain will be represented at the event by javelin thrower, Ahmed Mushaima.
Despite having an outstanding record of medals in multiple local, regional, intercontinental and international para-athletic competitions up her sleeve, Rooba says preparing and qualifying amidst the pandemic for the most-awaited sporting event in the world has been a challenging task. “This is my first participation since the outbreak. Training during such unprecedented circumstances has been incredibly challenging, especially with the frequent and unpredictable closure of sports facilities which led to training interruptions,” says Ms. Al Omari.
“Regardless of the challenges, I aspire to standout in the upcoming games and achieve advanced positions for my country,” she says with determination.
The 29-year-old, who is specialised in discus throw, shot put and javelin throw, has competed in several games throughout her career including the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Paralympics, the World Para Athletics Championships London 2017 and the Jakarta 2018 Asian Para Games, to name a few. She had notably won three medals at the 2017 World Para Athletics Grand Prix.
Speaking about her beginnings, Rooba says she found herself in individual sports, and with the necessary support and guidance, rapidly gained experience that bagged several medals at regional and international levels. “At the start of my sporting career in 2013, I was in fact more interested in basketball when compared to other sports,” she says.
“However, there are no female basketball teams for people with determination in the GCC, so I decided to move on to individual sports that suit my skills and add to my professional career as a para-athlete,” she explains.
When asked about her source of motivation and support, Rooba mentioned that her biggest supporters are her family members. “They are the last to say goodbye when I leave the airport to represent the Kingdom in international sport arenas, and the first to welcome me back with flowers, regardless of the outcome of my performance,” she says fondly.
“Family support is key to any athlete’s success, but especially in the case of para-athletes. Without them, we would never be able to make it,” she adds.
Rooba went on to laud the endless support provided by the newly established Bahrain Paralympic Committee, headed by Shaikh Mohammed bin Duaij Al Khalifa, and the keen follow up of the General Secretary, Ali Al Majed, as well as the sincere efforts exerted by the coaches under the Committee’s umbrella.
As the countdown for the mega event begins, with a little more than two weeks for the take-off to Tokyo, Rooba and her teammate are now undergoing extensive training sessions, under the supervision of National Coach Hassan Muftah. She trains twice daily, five days a week, as she eyes winning her first podium spot in the Paralympics.
Sharing a message to people with determination who are contemplating taking part in para-athletics, Rooba says: “I encourage them to take a step forward. Nothing comes easy, that is a fact. Consistent effort is necessary to advance. It took me six years of hard work, training and competing in different events before I could reach the Paralympics in 2016,”
“All I want to say to people with conditions that are similar to mine is that nothing is impossible as long as you continue believing in yourself and work hard to achieve your goal,’ she concludes.
