Doha, January 27th 2013 – It is not everyday you meet a youth athlete capable of breaking a World Junior Record. In fact, it is so rare an achievement that only athletes of the calibre of Usain Bolt or Allyson Felix have delivered an equivalent accomplishment.
For athletics talent hunters, Qatar is the right place to see such a quest bear fruit, especially if they have a glance over the famous Aspire Academy.
So far, High Jump Olympic bronze medallist Mutaz Barshim has been Academy’s emblem of success, but 17-year-old Ashref Amged Elseify is turning the tables after a brilliant 2012 season full of decorations and records.
Ashref will be 18 in less than a month (February 20) but he has already registered a world youth best in Hammer Throw with 85.26 with a 5 kg implement and a world junior record, 85.57, with the 6kg hammer. His honour list also includes the World Junior title from the Barcelona World Championships and the Asian Junior gold medal from the Championships that were held last season in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Athletics prodigy Ashref may have never become the person he is today if he hadn’t chosen the path of sporting life and hard training. And that’s why he is fairly listed in Qatar’s National Sport Day ambassadors’ crew.
He was lucky to be motivated by his father, a former football player, who wanted to raise his children in healthy lifestyle guidelines. Ashref’s pure talent emerged immediately and he instantly rose up to the athletics stardom.
The casual, carefree teenager was transformed into a diligent person, who trains hard in the gym and consistently follows his school courses.
"I am as punctual as it takes now in training, in school, in everything! I enjoy a healthy life. My nutrition is ideal, I stay away from smoking, I sleep early and I am serious and accurate in practice. I am always trying to give the maximum, not only in training, but in studying as well. My mentality, the way I think has completely changed".
Every young athlete’s dream, the ultimate goal, is one day to become an Olympian. Ashref is no exception to that rule and if he continues to work that hard he surely will see his dream come true:
"My inspiration was Primoz Kozmus, the 2008 Olympic champion. When I saw him I instantly imagined that one day I will compete against him at an Olympic final. I believe this will occur in 2016 in Rio. But first things first."
And when Ashref is mentioning "first things" he means this year’s Gulf and Arab senior Championships. This will be the first season he will throw the 7,260 kg hammer, the implement men are using, as far as possible:
"After a series of successful seasons in youth and junior level, I will try to meet the qualifying standard for the Moscow 2013 World Championships, although I am still running my first year as a junior. I now possess the world bests in both youth and junior categories and I would love to add, one day, the men’s world record (86.74 by Yuri Sedykh) to my tally".
The world record hunt seems a future prospect for Ashref. At the moment he enjoys the fruits of his junior exploits and he is thrilled by the idea to help people embrace sports, through his National Sport Day Ambassador role:
"Soon after Barcelona, where I won the World Junior gold and broke the world record, I realised that my name was posted everywhere and I felt really good, although I am not obsessed with fame.
"Young kids should not look for fame when they enter the world of sports. The general benefits of a healthy lifestyle should be their beacon.
"Sports are for everyone, not just for youngsters. Adults must add practicing to their daily schedule in order to build strong defences against illnesses. They will surely enjoy a better life".
For Ashref, Qatar’s initiative to introduce and celebrate sport activities through the National Sport Day, on February 12, will guide country’s inhabitants to get to know sports, love them and embrace them:
"Many people still do not really know most of the sports and their rules. Having expert perform demonstration in selected locations, Qatar residents will understand what athletics and other sports truly are and they will have the chance to test their skills and knowledge.
"I found the idea of educating people on different sports in popular places, like Corniche and Aspire Zone, absolutely fantastic.
"On the other side, this massive celebration, National Sport Day will remind people who have already experience sports activities but for any reason they are not regularly following practicing, the fun, joy and the benefits of sporting life".
For more information visit: www.sportsday.qa
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