Bahrain 2021: Ahmed Alhindawi eyes Paris 2024 via Asian Youth Para Games

Para swimmer will be one of the 29 athletes representing the host nation from 2 to 6 December in the largest ever Para sport event in the country 01 Dec 2021

An image showing the picture of a young man and a mascot bird holding a torch

Para swimmer Ahmed Alhindawi and the mascot 'BulBul' in a poster promoting the Bahrain 2021 Asian Youth Para Games

ⒸCourtesy NPC Bahrain

By Asian Paralympic Commitee

At 18, Ahmed Alhindawi has already set his goals – to compete at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Alhindawi believes that he can reach his goals taking part in more competitions. At the upcoming Bahrain 2021 Asian Youth Para Games (AYPG), which starts on Thursday (2 December), Alhindawi will compete in five Para swimming events in the class S7.

“I am very excited to compete at these Games. As the Games are happening in my country, I want to use this opportunity to prepare myself for future Games. I am looking to win gold medals in all the five events I am participating,” said Alhindawi ahead of the Bahrain 2021 AYPG.

“I want to participate in the Paralympic Games and make my country proud with good results."

Alhindawi, who is studying public administration at Bahrain University, was part of the national Para swimming team at the Indonesia 2018 Asian Para Games when he made his international debut.

“Our main aim was to get classified in Indonesia. Besides, we wanted him to get the big Games experience. And he definitely had a great experience there in terms of high-level competition and learning new skills from the Asian Paralympic stars,” said coach Yaser Alnamshan, who has been coaching Alhindawi since he was 12.

"Use these Games as an opportunity to find your style. Work on it for future Games."

- Five-time #Paralympic 🥇medallist Yip Pin Xiu 🇸🇬🏊‍♀️shares this beautiful message for the young athletes competing at the #bahrain2021aypg starting in 3 days. 🙌🇧🇭@bahrainnpc l @sgparalympics pic.twitter.com/7pkMZl9Ibe
— Asian Paralympic (@asianparalympic) November 29, 2021

INDONESIA 2018 EXPERIENCE

Alhindawi, who is a fan of the US Olympic legend Michael Phelps, also hopes that the Indonesia 2018 experience will come handy at Bahrain 2021.

“I learned many things from the Indonesia Games; the most important one – ‘set your goals and work hard to reach them’. And I am working on this and hope to achieve it at these Games,” said the youngster who was born with hereditary spastic paraplegia.

Coach Alnamshan hopes Alhindawi will be able to live his dream through his hard work and dedication.

“He is very hard working and listens to what I ask him to do. He is very attentive and disciplined. He is capable of making it to the Paralympics. He just needs to continue the process.”

Alhindawi will join 28 Para athletes in the Bahrain delegation at the Games, including three swimmers.

This is the first time the Kingdom of Bahrain is hosting an international Para sport event of this scale. Around 800 athletes from 30 countries are set to compete in nine sports until 6 December.

More information about the Bahrain 2021 Asian Youth Para Games can be found on the Asian Paralympic Committee website.