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Africa Sports News of Wednesday, 2 August 2023

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Social media abuzz as slow Somali athlete competes in World University Games

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Nasra Abubakar Ali, the novice athlete, took nearly twice as long as the winner to complete the race Nasra Abubakar Ali, the novice athlete, took nearly twice as long as the winner to complete the race

Calls for dismissals and widespread criticism have erupted on social media after Somalia fielded an inexperienced 100m sprinter in the World University Games held in China.

Nasra Abubakar Ali, the novice athlete, took nearly twice as long as the winner to complete the race, crossing the finish line in 21.81 seconds – a staggering 10 seconds behind the eventual champion.

The country's Sports Minister, Mohamed Barre Mohamud, expressed his embarrassment over the incident and offered an apology to the Somali people, acknowledging that it was not a true representation of the nation. The decision to select an untrained athlete with no previous top-level competition experience has left Somalis questioning the judgment of their officials.

Social media users, including Elham Garaad, voiced their disappointment and concern over the government's choice to send an unprepared representative. The incident has drawn international attention and reflects poorly on the country's athletic reputation.

The Association of Somali Universities denied appointing any athlete for the event, adding to the confusion surrounding the selection process. Consequently, the Somali Athletics Federation has agreed to launch an investigation to determine how Nasra Abubakar Ali ended up as the representative.

This is not the first time Somalia has faced controversy over its selection of athletes in international events. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, Maryan Nuh Muse competed in the 400m event with a time of 1:10.14, significantly slower than the average time for the race. Similarly, in the 2012 London Olympics, Zamzam Mohamed Farah clocked 1:20:48, lagging behind the winner by 30 seconds. These incidents have shed light on the challenges faced by Somali women participating in high-level sports, with some athletes even enduring death threats from individuals who oppose their participation.

While some praised the athletes for their determination to take part in the competitions despite the tough conditions, the recurring issues with athlete selection have sparked anger and uproar on social media. As the investigation unfolds, many hope that Somalia's sports officials will take steps to ensure better representation and preparation for future international events.

















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