by sportswriters Wang Qi and You Huiyuan
NAIROBI, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Olympics first struck a chord with Omidullah Alizadah when the young Afghan watched the 2012 London Games at home.
A decade on, drifting abroad, the martial arts enthusiast remains determined to reach the world's top-tier ring -- now through the lesser-known discipline of savate.
Alizadah began exploring combat sports and gymnastics at the age of eight. "It's in the genes," he said, crediting his athletic talent to his father, a kung fu and karate practitioner who nevertheless discouraged him from pursuing sport, fearing it would only bring hardship.
It was the summer of 2012, when Rohullah Nikpai -- Afghanistan's first and only Olympic medalist -- battled for another bronze in London, that changed something.
"I had no mobile phone or internet. There was only one TV channel in Afghanistan broadcasting the London Olympics," he recalled, describing the flickering screen that held him spellbound as he watched those dazzling kicks. "I want to win an Olympic medal myself."
That passion, however, ran into one obstacle after another.
As a member of Afghanistan's Hazara minority, Alizadah revealed that discrimination had long haunted him, while alleged backroom dealings slammed the door on his path to the national team.
"I was a good player and had energy," said Alizadah, who earned the nickname "the second Rohullah" from his taekwondo coaches. "But I was blocked."
Around 2015, a friend involved with savate introduced him to the French combat sport.
"He told me, 'Your future is in savate. You've got good taekwondo skills; you just need to learn boxing.'" Alizadah answered the call.
This time, he made Afghanistan's national team, brought home titles, and saw his Olympic dream draw closer as hopes grew that savate could become an Olympic medal event at Paris 2024.
Yet his ambitions once again came up against threats to his safety. Frequent attacks by unidentified people caused severe injuries to his abdomen and back.
He left Afghanistan in 2019. Far from ending his sporting ambitions, he began rebuilding them in Kenya's Kakuma Refugee Camp.
Despite theft, discrimination and repeated assaults, the displaced Afghan was able to resume Savate training, buoyed by his martial arts skills and the support of those around him.
Alizadah recently won three medals at an Asian championship in Nepal. "When I go to competitions, other national teams come with a technical team, a medical team and coaches. It's a whole package," he said. "For me, as a refugee, I am alone."
Still, the accolades gave him a renewed sense of confidence. "Now at least I feel good. I have international medals," he said with a smile.
Savate remains a niche sport in the Kakuma settlement, which is home to more than 230,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
As an experienced martial arts coach, Alizadah trained for his own competitions while passing his skills on to others.
While working at a local primary school, he instructed students from South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Burundi and Somalia, hoping to help them find opportunities beyond the camp.
From October 31 to November 13, Africa will host its first-ever Olympic event, with Senegal's capital Dakar staging the fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games.
In another historic first, the Dakar Games will feature a refugee team, composed entirely of six African-based athletes. Among them is Laurence Namukiza, a female taekwondo athlete from Kakuma.
Alizadah saw the life-changing potential of martial arts, especially for refugees who often have limited access to sporting facilities and organized competition.
"They are good players," he said of the young refugees he trained. "Give them energy, give them a good coach and a good place -- of course they will give good results."
As for his own Olympic quest, savate has yet to earn a place on the official program even after Paris 2024, but Alizadah keeps holding onto it.
"Even if I don't get a medal, if I just participate once, I will feel very good," he said.
For now, his next target is the savate world championship in France, scheduled for September. "All the fighters who have rankings are going there. I hope to get a good medal," he said.
Knowing fully well that even the most capable fighters would inevitably pass their prime, the 28-year-old has already mapped out his next chapter: to launch a foundation for refugee athletes.
"Sport is the one tool that can bring all humans together in peaceful competition," he said. "For refugees around the world, I wish I could change the life of at least one person like me who has a dream. Taking them to competitions is one of my biggest dreams." ■
