Sana'a, Yemen, September 4, 2023: Yemeni fencer Samah Al-Shami believes her preparations for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China have gone well and that she is ready for action.
In an interview with the Yemen Olympic Committee, she pointed out that the fencing team has been training for the Asian Games for the past seven months and has achieved good results in challenging circumstances.
She added that, although the fencing team lacked modern equipment, this had not affected their morale, and she thanked the Yemen Olympic Committee for providing a training venue, transportation and nutrition. This support, she said, had provided encouragement to the fencers and made them enthusiastic about the preparations for Hangzhou and representing Yemen.
"We needed to interact more with more female players but, due to the circumstances our country is going through, not all conditions were prepared in the way we aspired for," Samah told Yemen NOC.
"But we were able to come a long way, and I look forward to providing an honorable level. The responsibility doubles on us to prove that the Yemeni player is capable of overcoming the difficulties."
The fencers are fine-tuning their preparations at a training camp in Jordan.
"The camp currently established in Jordan will increase our readiness and preparations and will have a great impact," she added.
"We will benefit greatly from it in various technical aspects and modern tools since they do not exist in Yemen. God willing, we will live up to the level of responsibility placed on us and we will not fall short in giving everything we can."
She concluded by pointing out that she was determined to represent her country with distinction and to raise its flag high, despite the difficulty of the task and the strength of the opponents.
"With determination and persistence, ambitions can be achieved and achievements can be made. We appreciate the sponsorship and support of the Yemen Olympic Committee, which has provided a lot and overcome all difficulties in order to help us as much as possible."