Agencies/London
Qatar’s sprinter Noor Hussain al-Malki (pictured) is determined to do her country proud at London 2012 but is already eyeing the next Games in Rio de Janeiro. The 100m runner is one of four women in Qatar’s London 2012 Olympic team, the first female athletes from their country to compete at an Olympic Games.
“I was surprised at first, and then as it sank in I became very happy to represent my country, my culture, my family,” she said. “First of all, I want to beat my personal best and to make my country proud and my people.
“I am very, very excited. Words can’t explain what a great opportunity it is. If we can encourage other girls back home to pick up sport I will be very happy.” Standing 1.55m tall and weighing just 43kg, the shy 17-year-old appears tiny and comes across as younger than her age, but hopes the London Games will not be her last.
“After the Olympics I will continue to compete in sport,” she said. “My dream is to improve my personal best at each competition, and to go on to represent my country at the highest level.”
Saudi Arabia and Brunei Darussalam will also field female athletes for the first time. Brunei’s 400m runner Maziah Mahusin was equally surprised when she was chosen to compete in London. “At first I could not believe it,” Mahusin said. “I feel proud of myself.”
The Brunei team’s only female member said she was honoured to be chosen to carry the flag at the Opening Ceremony, and hopes her participation will inspire other women in her country. “Women in Brunei say that I really inspire them,” she said. “I receive a lot of messages; they say they aspire to be like me some day. There are more girls asking me on Facebook how to join athletics in Brunei.
“My aim is to inspire and encourage women in Brunei and I am being successful.” Mayram al-Ishaq is an official with Qatar athletics association and mentors al-Malki. “People in Qatar are really feeling proud that Noor is here,” she said. “We spotted Noor five years ago in a schools Olympic programme competition in Doha.
“We were thinking of the Olympic Games then, it was one year before Beijing. “Noor was talented. She went on to compete in national competitions, then in Gulf countries and Arab countries.”