STORY: Syrian athletes strive to forge path to glory despite challenges
DATELINE: Aug. 28, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:04
LOCATION: Damascus
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Syrian weightlifter Man Asaad training
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MAN ASAAD, Syrian weightlifter
3. various of Syrian wrestler Omar Sarem training
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): OMAR SAREM, Syrian wrestler

STORYLINE:

Despite the ongoing turmoil in their homeland and the relentless impact of the U.S. and Western sanctions, Syrian athletes are proving that resilience and ambition can triumph over even the harshest challenges.

As the upcoming Asian Games is around the corner, the Syrian athletes are gearing up to bring their A-game. They are not just vying for medals; they are striving to reshape perceptions of their homeland with each lift of the barbell, and each stride on the mat.

In the al-Fayhaa Sports City in Damascus, Man Asaad, a 29-year-old heavyweight weightlifter who clinched the bronze medal in the +109 kg category at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, is preparing for the games.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MAN ASAAD, Syrian weightlifter
"There are overwhelming difficulties. Whether during the war or now, our economic situation is difficult. Before the crisis or war, our game was extremely difficult. We used to face challenges every day and when the crisis came, it brought along new challenges, but that made us only more determined to make achievements. We are so determined to give other people a good image of us and our country."

Omar Sarem, a 22-year-old Syrian wrestler who secured a gold medal in the 15th Arab Sports Games, embodies the sentiment of defying the odds.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): OMAR SAREM, Syrian wrestler
"We went through a tough economic situation and the war, so anyone who is representing the country abroad is an achievement for himself and for the country. Despite the war and everything he endured, he still shows up for training and holds up the flag of his country high, that's considered an achievement because he beat all the odds and challenges, whether economic or livelihoods or transportation or anything else. He surpassed all these challenges and came to train to score gold medals."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Damascus.
(XHTV)