STORY: Iraqi athletes strive to make their mark at Hangzhou Asian Games
DATELINE: Sept. 19, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:58
LOCATION: Baghdad
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Iraqi judo team
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): HAITHAM ABDUL HAMID, Secretary-General of Iraq's Olympic Committee
3. various of the Iraqi judo team
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): AHMED JASIM MOHAMMED, Supervisor of Iraq's national judo team
5. various of the Iraqi judo team
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): HUSSEIN ALI HUSSEIN, Iraqi judoka
7. various of the Iraqi judo team
8. SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): HAITHAM ABDUL HAMID, Secretary-General of Iraq's Olympic Committee
9. SOUNDBITE 5 (Arabic): AHMED JASIM MOHAMMED, Supervisor of Iraq's national judo team
10. SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): Iraqi delegation

STORYLINE:

A total of 32 athletes will represent Iraq in 13 sports at the 19th Asian Games, which will open in China's Hangzhou on September 23.

Haitham Abdul Hamid, secretary-general of Iraq's Olympic Committee, said that the Iraqi delegation's ambition is to make a breakthrough and achieve medals.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): HAITHAM ABDUL HAMID, Secretary-General of Iraq's Olympic Committee
"Our ambition is that our participation is not just for participation, but rather for achievement and having a mark on the podium. This is our ambition, and this is our goal."

Ahmed Jasim Mohammed, supervisor of Iraq's national judo team, said that he was looking forward to one of his team members winning a medal.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): AHMED JASIM MOHAMMED, Supervisor of Iraq's national judo team
"We have hope with international judoka Sajjad Ghanem Sehen in the 81kg category. We all hope that he will obtain one of the medals in judo."

With full confidence, judoka Hussein Ali Hussein said the team is ready for the tournament and hopes to achieve something.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): HUSSEIN ALI HUSSEIN, Iraqi judoka
"The next stage is the stage of achievements. The training staff and players are determined for this stage. We will be up to the responsibility and get a medal in the Asian Games and an honorable participation for Iraq through judo."

The Iraqi delegation also expressed expectations for the Hangzhou Games.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): HAITHAM ABDUL HAMID, Secretary-General of Iraq's Olympic Committee
"It's not an expectation, but rather a certainty that the Asian Games will succeed administratively and organizationally, as China is a pioneer in organizing sports games not only at the level of Asia but also at the level of the world, especially as China had hosted Olympic Games."

SOUNDBITE 5 (Arabic): AHMED JASIM MOHAMMED, Supervisor of Iraq's national judo team
"China is always experienced in all tournaments and succeeds whether it is the Asian Games or the Asian Judo Championship or other games, as China has a potential and it has infrastructure."

SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): Iraqi delegation
"Hello, Hangzhou! Wait for us in Hangzhou!"

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Baghdad.
(XHTV)