Paralympian puts racket where his mouth is

Egypt's Ibrahim Hamadtou lost both his arms in a train accident as a 10-year-old, but didn't let that stop him from a Paralmypic table tennis debut in Rio.

When Egyptian Paralympic table tennis player Ibrahim Hamadtou lost both arms in a train accident at age 10, he literally gritted his teeth and got on with life.

Holding the blade in his mouth, Hamadtou serves by gripping the ball between his toes, tossing it into the air and striking it with a swing of his head.

The debutant didn't win any medals at the Rio Games, or even score a victory, but Hamadtou's performance was one of the most remarkable.

The married father-of-three has spent a lifetime working on his inventive playing style, which has won him silver medals at the Egyptian Open and the African championships.

"I've gone from being something only for show to somebody playing to win," he said.

The 43-year-old is determined to pass on his skills to other people with his impairment.

"That's my goal - back in Egypt there are a couple of small boys like me that I am teaching to play my way," he said.


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Source: AAP



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