Egyptian table tennis player Ibrahim Hamadtou captured the world’s attention on Wednesday for his inspiring grit and determination to play table tennis with no arms, showcasing the diversity of sports and the importance of inclusion for people with disabilities. Despite losing his performance against South Korea’s Park Hong-kyu in the Class 6 qualifiers, the Egyptian player went viral on the Internet and was featured on several global platforms, such as Fox News, the Daily Mail and Business Insider. Having lost both his arms at the age of ten, Hamadtou stunned viewers with his impressive performance in controlling the bat with his mouth. Speaking to CNN in 2014, Hamadtou recalled how difficult it was for him to continue playing the sport after the accident. “I had to practice hard for three consecutive years on a daily basis. At the beginning, people were amazed and surprised seeing me playing. They encouraged and supported me a lot and they were very proud of my willing, perseverance and determination,” he said. Egypt’s Ibrahim Hamadtou lost his arms in a train accident at age 10, now he competes in table tennis using his mouth to…
Egyptian Paralympian Ibrahim Hamadtou Captures World’s Attention for Inspiring Performance
August 26, 2021
