Sports Event

Abbas Karimi was born with no arms but the 14-year-old Afghan has ambitions to earn a gold medal for his country in the world Paralympic games.

If he gets the support he needs the teenager will be the first Afghan to represent his county as a swimmer in the games next due to take place in Brazil in 2014.

Afghanistan was late to discover sport for the disabled. The first Afghan athletes to go to the Paralympics, a pair of cyclists, went to Atlanta in 1996.

“I urge people to support me so I can participate in world Paralympics games. I would like to achieve a medal for my country. I also want to be a symbol for those who are disabled like me . My advice is that they should not be depressed about their disability and they should not suffer for being disabled,” said Karimi during a break from a training session in the pool, using his chin for poolside support.

Decades of conflict poverty and neglect prevent a large number of disabled Afghans from pursuing sport. They are often unemployed, and face victimization and discrimination in a society where disability is perceived as a weakness.

Karim’s trainer and Water Polo Federation head Qasim Hamidi has no doubts about the teenager’s talent.

“I urge the government to support Abbas. I challenge that if Abbas gets full support he will be a medal winner for Afghanistan in the 2014 Paralympics 2014 in Brazil,” said Hamidi.

Karimi has mastered many skills to overcome the everyday problems of life without arms in Afghanistan. He uses his feet to eat and drink, use his mobile phone, and can even drive a car.

“At first I was suffering a lot from being armless but when I started swimming and other activities I found myself capable to do everything well. I am now hopeful in my life, by using my feet I do all my work so I don’t have to really worry about anything,” the teenager added.

Karimi is also learning English at the Star Educational Society in Kabul.

His outlook on life, which he writes on a white board in class using his foot is: ‘If you want to do something you can do it.’ He has clearly won the admiration of his classmates.

“Abbas is the talented boy in our class. I can say that he is the most intelligent student of this center. Despite being armless almighty God has given him other abilities and we can see that he is using his abilities very well and does everything,” said one of them, Safiullah Jan.

Abbas, whose father sells cars in Kabul, comes from a large family. He has five brothers and five sisters but he is the only one to be born with a disability.

As a child he says he was supported by his parents but as he has become more confident in his own abilities and continues to explore more of life with his feet, his philosophy - if you want something you can get it - appears to be paying dividends.
 

England suffered a shock one-wicket defeat by Sri Lanka in their opening group match at the Women's World Cup after a thrilling contest went down to the final ball.

The defending champions had been well below their best throughout, but still looked likely to defend their total of 238-8 as the Sri Lanka middle order buckled.

But, a brilliant 41-ball 56 from Eshani Kaushalya left the minnows needing only nine to win from the final over and, when Georgia Elwiss was dispatched over mid-wicket for a maximum, the result was as good as confirmed.

There was still time for Elwiss to drop a simple chance to remove Kaushalaya - who had earlier been dropped by Jenny Gunn - and the same batter to be run out looking for the winning run.

Two dots followed, but with a single needed to win and the final pair at the crease, Dilani Manodara hit the last ball of the match for six to give Sri Lanka their first win over England in any form of the game and with it, produce one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history.

 With three teams set to qualify from Group A, England's chances of progressing are far from over, but they may now have to beat India and West Indies if they are to reach the Super Six stage.

And on this evidence, Charlotte Edwards's side need to improve in every department if they are to advance, as they were given a lesson in accurate bowling and boundary hitting by the lowest-seeded team in the tournament.

England's top order had failed to fire in the warm-up defeat by New Zealand and now, with a hamstring injury denying them the services of Sarah Taylor, they again struggled in dewy conditions after being asked to bat first.

Skipper Edwards, Danielle Wyatt and Lydia Greenway all fell cheaply, leaving Arran Brindle and Heather Knight to rebuild.

Their calm progress showed that the Sri Lanka attack posed no great threat, but Shashikala Siriwardene's side were so disciplined as to not concede a single boundary from the 18th to 41st over.

Still, it was batting errors that further hampered England, with Brindle run out after being sent back by Knight and the latter being bowled when attempting a slog sweep of the impressive leg-spin of Sandamali Dolawatte.

At 114-5 England were again in trouble as debutant Amy Jones - in the side as Taylor's replacement - joined Gunn.

Their response was a counter-attacking stand of 83, both players looking to sweep and use their feet to the spinners.

Finally England were able to use the lightning-fast Brabourne Stadium outfield to their advantage and, even though Gunn fell for 50 and Jones 41, Katherine Brunt arrived to hit the only six of the innings as 94 came from the final 10 overs.

Sri Lanka, though, were not daunted by the prospect of the chase and, with Yasoda Mendis enjoying the luck of being dropped off Brunt by Knight at first slip, she and Chamari Atapattu set about their task with some free-flowing strokeplay.

With the left-handed Atapattu often flaying through the off side and both players keen to sweep, some wayward England bowling was punished.

As an almighty shock became a possibility, England finally made the breakthrough when Atapattu slapped Brindle to midwicket.

And, after Brunt's extra pace had Mendis miscuing to Danielle Hazell, the door was open to make inroads into the Sri Lanka middle order.

But still Sri Lanka chased, led by the powerful Kaushalya, whose savage treatment of Gunn in the 48th over tipped the balance.

And, when she hit Elwiss into the stands two overs later, Sri Lanka were as good as home. There was still drama to come, but Sri Lanka were not to be denied.

In Friday's other games, elsewhere in Mumbai, New Zealand racked up a massive 320-5 after losing the toss against South Africa, as captain Suzie Bates scored 72 and Sophie Devine smashed six sixes in her 145 from 131 balls.

South Africa were never in the hunt, and were bowled out for 170 as the White Ferns wrapped up a 150-run win.

Meanwhile, in Cuttack, Pakistan bowled Australia out for 175 as left-arm spinner Sadia Yousuf taking 3-30.

However, only Bismah Maroof (43) made more than 10 in Pakistan's reply as they were skittled for 84 in 33.2 overs, handing the Southern Stars victory by 91 runs.  

 

Organizing committee to host World Student Games (Universiada) in the Y’2017 has been established in Kazakhstan and begins its work.

Kazakhstan’s Galina Vishnevskaya won silver in the 2013 Youth and Junior Biathlon World Championship that was held in Obertilliach, Austria, Vesti.kz reports.