Hangzhou Asian Games | Close up: Chasing Dreams in Blockade and War - Palestinian Sand Volleyball Athletes Looking Forward to Hangzhou Asian Games Athletes | Hangzhou | Sand Volleyball
At noon, it was the hottest time of the day in Gaza, Xinhua News Agency reported. Abdullah Alkan, a sand volleyball athlete from the Gaza Strip in Palestine, is sweating profusely on the training ground, fully preparing for the Hangzhou Asian Games, which will open on September 23rd.
"Keep up, buckle hard!" Abdullah's father and coach Khalid Alkan commanded the training from the sidelines, his expression focused and serious. Khalid told reporters that since officially confirming their eligibility to participate in the Hangzhou Asian Games in July, Abdullah and his teammates have been persistently preparing for the competition, conducting at least 8 hours of training every day, including strength, skills, physical fitness, and other aspects.
Abdullah, who is 20 years old this year, has been practicing volleyball with his father since he was six years old. His father, Khalid, is a former Palestinian volleyball national player who has represented the country in international competitions multiple times. Abdullah's childhood dream was to one day represent Palestine in major events such as the Olympics and Asian Games like his father, and this dream will soon become a reality.
Abdullah's path to becoming a volleyball player is not smooth. When he was a child, his body was thin and weak, and many people thought he was not suitable for this sport. But Khalid found that Abdullah had better coordination and quick reaction ability than others, so he kept him practicing beside him.
When it comes to the Palestinian Gaza Strip, people often think of keywords such as "blockade" and "war". Despite the harsh living environment, Abdullah still hasn't given up on his volleyball dream.
"I have been living in a war-torn region since I was young, experiencing at least four large-scale military conflicts," Abdullah told reporters. "Whenever I survive a conflict, I tell myself to continue pursuing my dreams."
Abdullah officially joined the local Friendship Volleyball Club in 2018, starting his career as an athlete. The Gaza Strip has been under long-term lockdown, with rudimentary facilities and outdated sports equipment. However, the stretching coastline of the Gaza Strip provides a possibility for it to train beach volleyball. Over the past five years, Abdullah and his partner Ibrahim Kasia have established a good understanding and won a bronze medal for Palestine at the 2022 West Asian Volleyball Championships held in Qatar.
Speaking of the upcoming trip to Hangzhou, Abdullah couldn't conceal his excitement. He said, "I am proud to represent Palestine in a large-scale event like the Asian Games and look forward to winning honors with Ibrahim in Hangzhou. We know that winning a medal in Hangzhou is not an easy task, but we will do our best."
For his father Khalid, 13 years ago he participated in the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games as an athlete, and now he will lead his son to Hangzhou as a coach to pursue his dreams again. "Being able to compete in China is a rare opportunity. I hope the team members can play at a high level and add glory to Palestinian sports," he said.
