Muslim athletes have started shining brightly at the 2024 Paris Olympics, securing medals and making their nations proud. Their remarkable achievements underscore their dedication and skills on the global stage.
Here’s a glimpse on some of them:
Kazakh Judoka Yeldos Smetov clinched gold in the men’s 60kg judo final, defeating France’s Luka Mkheidze, a Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist. Smetov’s victory not only brought pride to Kazakhstan but also highlighted his prowess in the sport, reaffirming his status as a top judoka.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Smetov.
“Thanks to his skill and strength of spirit, the flag of Kazakhstan is flying high. Yeldos became the best in the world in the struggle with the strongest rivals, having won the main competitions of four years. The whole country admires you,” wrote Tokayev on his X account, The Astana Times reported.
In shooting, Kazakh athletes Islam Satpayev and Alexandra Le won bronze in the 10-meter mixed team air rifle event.
They triumphed over the German team, earning Kazakhstan its first Olympic medal in shooting since 1996. This achievement marked a significant milestone for the nation in the shooting sport.
Tunisia’s Fares Ferjani narrowly missed becoming Africa’s first gold medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Competing in the men’s individual sabre final, Ferjani secured a silver medal after a hard-fought 15-11 match against South Korea’s Oh Sanguk, The BBC reported.
Despite the defeat, his silver medal stands as a significant accomplishment for Tunisia and Africa.
The 2024 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad and officially branded as Paris 2024, is an international multi-sport event taking place from 24 July to 11 August 2024 in France, with the opening ceremony having taken place on 26 July.
