Al-Qallaf displays his gold medal

WASHINGTON, Oct 8, (KUNA): Kuwaiti fencer Tareq Al-Qallaf clinched gold in the wheelchair men’s epee class at the 2016 North American Cup October event in Detroit as he thrashed Andrew Quattrociocchi of the USA, 15-5, on Friday.

Al-Qallaf dedicated his triumph to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the Kuwaiti people.

Also to those who supported him, namely his family, Kuwait’s Public Authority for Sports, sponsors and National Security Bureau Chief Sheikh Thamer Ali Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.

Seeded first in the event, Al-Qallaf had said ahead of his participation that the epee event was his “specialty,” through which he achieves most of his success.

“Kuwait will be proud tomorrow,” he told KUNA. “Mark my words. I am full of confidence and belief and I am looking forward to competing.” The 41-year-old talent has 380 medals under his belt, and dreams to one day run a school for fencing where he can teach youngsters about the sports he loves.

Al-Qallaf, who was rendered disabled in the legs after birth, fell in love with swords after a visit to Buckingham Palace in London, where he was receiving treatment at age seven.

Upon returning home he enrolled in the Kuwait Sports Club for the Disabled.

“At first, my family feared I might get hurt by the swords but they later started supporting my love for the sport,” he recalled.

Since then he has won gold medals in several World Cups and Asian Championships, under banner of the sports wheelchair body, IWAS, and North American Cup events across the US and has made it to the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.

He has also been seeded first on many occasions throughout his 34-year career, and has written a book detailing his success story and his “fight against all odds in a positive manner.” Al-Qallaf said that “obstacles come in many forms but it is up to us to figure out the best way we may overcome them.”

The champion hopes to add to his tally with two more medals in the foil and sabre events over the next two days. “When we are competing, we are fighting to win but outside of the court we are friends,” he said of his competitors, who include Paralympic champions.

Some 1,800 fencers have showed up to the competition, which is hosting able-bodied fencing events as well, and provides qualification points for the 2020 Tokyo Games.