Libya’s champions with special needs continue to excel at the World Summer Games, held in the German capital of Berlin from June 17 to 25 with massive participation, including seven thousand athletes representing 190 countries.
Before the final day of the games, Libya had won several diverse medals, totaling 18, including five gold, four silver, and nine bronze. The latest win was by swimmer Meriam Ben Issa, who won a silver medal in the 25-meter backstroke race, amidst fierce competition from eight swimmers from around the world, according to the Libyan Special Olympics’ Facebook page.
Libyan athletes competed in eight sports, including athletics, swimming, weightlifting, table tennis, cycling, badminton, bowling, and bocce.
Among Libya’s medals in the competitions were a gold medal and three bronze medals won by the champion Mansour Alzawi in weightlifting. Libyan champion Muath Al-Karghali also won a gold medal in the individual bowling competition at the World Summer Games.
Meanwhile, Dr. Jamal Bargh, Libya’s ambassador to Germany, met with the Libyan Special Olympics delegation, expressing his admiration for the encouraging results achieved at the 2023 World Summer Games in Berlin.
The Libyan National Powerlifting team has secured the sixth spot in the World Open Powerlifting Championship, held in Malta. Competing against 56 countries in this globally renowned competition, Libya made a significant impact.
Abdullah Hajar played a pivotal role in securing this ranking. His impressive performance earned him a silver medal, and two bronze medals in the 105-kilogram category. This achievement has set a new standard in Libyan powerlifting, and has been a source of national pride.
Another noteworthy performance was that of Abdelrahman Musa, who claimed the fourth position in the 120-kilogram category. His determination and strength demonstrated Libya’s potential in the sport. Meanwhile, in the 59-kilogram weight class, Mohamed Al-Hamali achieved a respectable sixth place.