Haider Qusay Abdul rises as Iraq’s Kyokushin karate champion

SALAH AL-DIN — Haider Qusay Abdul, a 22-year-old from Samarra, a city that stands on the east bank of the Tigris in Salah Al-Din governorate, has rapidly risen to represent both Samarra Club and Iraq’s national Kyokushin karate team, achieving significant milestones with his signature knockout speed. In Iraq’s national competition, Qusay earned recognition for the fastest knockout, later securing third place at the 2022 Middle Eastern Championship in Iran. Adding to his achievements, he claimed three national titles, the most recent being the 2024 Iraqi Championship, where he again secured first place with a knockout.

“My dream is to achieve world titles and elevate the names of Iraq and Samarra,” Qusay told 964media.

Reflecting on his journey, Qusay said, “I entered this sport in 2019 and won my first championship in 2021 with the fastest knockout. In 2022, I took first place in the Iraqi Championship and secured third place at the Middle East Championship in Iran, competing against athletes from Iran, Iraq, Algeria, Libya, Yemen, Kuwait, the UAE, and Bahrain.” He continued, “In 2023, I finished third in the Iraqi Championship, and in 2024, I won first place again with a knockout.”

He credits his success to “trainer and my coach, Captain Raad Diab, who put in tremendous effort with me.” His goal is to represent Iraq in Asian and global championships, aiming to bring prestigious titles to his country and hometown.

Qusay is currently preparing for the Arab Championship in December, with a rigorous training regimen that includes two hours each in the morning and evening. “My message to the authorities is to support athletes who raise Iraq’s name regionally and globally,” he added.

Raad Diab, Qusay’s coach and head of Samarra’s Kyokushin training program, shared his approach with 964media, saying, “Every year, we open training sessions for youth, starting in the summer and continuing throughout the year. When we see young people with talent and the traits of a champion, we bring them into the team.”

Diab noted that Qusay stands out as a natural athlete, with “flexibility, strength, skill, and an intense drive to become a champion, which made it easy for us to support him on his path to success.”

Currently, Diab is focused on Qusay’s preparation for the Arab Championship, which will be held in Iraq. “We hope he’ll reach global championships,” Diab said. While Samarra Club offers some support for individual sports, he emphasised that it falls short compared to the resources provided for soccer.