Egyptian para table tennis champion eyes Rio Games

Meet Ibrahim Hamato, a 2016 Paralympic Games contestant.

Hamato is a para table tennis champion from Egypt.

The 41 year old has been training for the Paralympic Games in Rio due to begin next month.

He lost his limbs at the tender age of ten, and says his disability made him even more determined to realise his dreams.

“Nothing is impossible, whoever wants to work and prove himself has to exert effort. You can not stay at a cafe and dream of doing something and being prominent. One needs to start with his own self and then God will make things easy for you,” said Hamato

The Para table champion has broken barriers and challenged perceptions of disabled people in the North African country.

“Ibrahim’s practice is different to anyone else’s. It needs great effort from his side and a lot of thinking from the trainer’s side to employ Ibrahim’s skills, so as he would not be missing anything like anyone who has his arms,” said Hamato’s trainer Nasr Abdelhaleem.

The Paralympic Games run from 7 to 18 September.

Reuters