Ibrahim Hamadtou, an Egyptian Paralympian, was just 10 years old when he suffered a severe injury in a train accident. The table tennis player, now 48, is an inspiration to the Paralympic Games Tokyo.
Hamadtou competes in the Paralympic Games for the second time. He balances his paddle or bat in his mouth, and then uses his right foot as a thrower to get the ball to him.
Hamadtou gained fame after winning three silvers medals at the 2011 and 2013 African Championships, and one at Egypt Open 2013.
This is amazing. Ibrahim Hamadtou, 48 years old, is an Egyptian Paralympian who was killed in a train accident in Tokyo when he was 10. Although he could have played football, he chose to take up table tennis as a challenge. This is so inspiring! (via @Ch4Paralympics) pic.twitter.com/ONB59KwgVD Omid Djalili (@omid9) August 25, 2021
He was second in the 2016 African Championships and qualified for his first Olympic Games in Rio, at 43 years old. He was ninth in the team event, and 11th in singles in the Class 6 Paralympic table tennis category. His unique skills at table tennis caught the attentions of millions at the Rio Paralympic Games.
He stated that he was a soccer and table tennis player growing up in his village, but that table tennis attracted him because of its challenge.
Hamadtou stated that he was at the International Table Tennis Federation meeting to officiate a match between two friends. "They disagreed about a point. When I counted it in favour of one player, the other player said to me, don't interfere, as you won't be able play." That statement was what got me excited to start playing table tennis.
