Syrian child Moataz Bellah Ahmed Alali won a silver medal in the Junior World Karate Championship which concluded on Sunday in the Turkish city of Istanbul.
Alali, who is eight years old, came second in the individual kata in the championship, the first to be held for juniors, while his brother Osama Ahmed Alali, who is thirteen years old, came fourth in the individual kata.
The Alalis competed in the championship as part of the Free Syrian National Karate Team headed by trainer and international referee Ali Jameel Ahmed.
Alali’s coach Ahmed said after the competition: “Despite all the pain and suffering, particularly what is happening to our people in Aleppo of at the hands of the murderous Assad regime, Alali has ascended the podium holding the flag of the Syrian revolution and saluting its fallen heroes.”
Alali said that he “aspires to win medals in future tournaments,” adding that he will raise the flag of revolution high. “My message to the world will always be: ‘save the children of Syria,’” he said.
Children aged 8-13 participated in the tournament which was organized by Turkish Karate Federation in Istanbul from April 30 to May 1. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
