Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
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Damascus, SANA – Despite the crisis that has been affecting Syria and all aspects of life in it for more than 3 years now, and despite the constant threats posed by terrorists, the Syrians’ will to live prevails and has even grown more vigorous, refusing to bow down to terrorism and those who support it.
The Syrian sports sector still exists, despite the hard circumstances the country is witnessing; the Syrian football Premiere League for 2014 was launched and concluded by crowning al-Wahda team as champion, while Al-Jaish won the Republic Cup.
In the same filed, the Syrian National Football Team was won the West Asia Championship held in Kuwait recently, despite poor preparation and many adversities.
In athletics and other competitions, Syrian athletes have participated in a number of competitions abroad and won an assortment of medals, including the following:
Weightlifter Ahed Joughili won a silver medal in the Mediterranean games held in Mersin, Turkey in 2013.
Swimmer Saleh Mohammad won a bronze medal in long distance swimming in the Swimming World Cup held in Argentina.
Osama Azam won a silver medal in the Karate World
Cup held in Serbia.
Mohammad Khalid Mohammad won a gold medal in shot
put during the Special Sports Athletics World Cup
held In France.
However, these achievements are not without cost, and victory is sometimes tinged with sadness for athletes who lost friends and colleagues in terrorist attacks. In their total disregard for human life and common values and morality, terrorists have attacked sport facilities with mortar shells and rockets, claiming a number of athletes’ lives.These athletes include Yusuf Suleiman, who played for Al-Wathba football team. He was killed by a terrorist mortar shell which hit Tishreen stadium.
Member of the Syrian Taekwondo team Mohammad Ali Ne’meh was likewise killed by a terrorist mortar shell hit al-Faiha’a Stadium.
Gyiath Taifour, former boxing champion in boxing and who was coaching at the time of his passing was assassinated by terrorists in Aleppo province as a “punishment” for his patriotic and anti-terrorism stances.
Ahmad Matar, one of the most famous goalkeepers in the 1980s and a coach at the time of his death was killed by a terrorist mortar shell that targeted Dweila’ neighborhood in Damascus.
Al-Wathba football player Manhal Kousa, who witnessed the death of his teammate Yusuf Suleiman, described the late athlete as “a good person, friend, and father.”
“What did he do to deserve to die? What did his wife do to deserve becoming a widow? What did his daughter do to deserve becoming an orphan?” al-Kousa asked.
In the same context, coach Imad Dahbour described his late friend Salah Matar as a great person who brought happiness to the hearts of football fans with his unique performance, particularly during his time with al-Futuwa team in Deir Ezzor province.
But despite all the horrors and tragedies that come in the wake of terrorism, life remains stronger, and sports, being one of the more vibrant expressions of life and human determination and accomplishment, will continue to
thrive in Syria and it will not bow down in the face of those who know only death and violence.
Bashar Moussa / Hazem Sabbagh