Iraq’s Najla Emad wins bronze in Arab Clubs Championship debut in Muscat

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Paralympic champion Najla Emad secured a bronze medal in her first appearance at the Arab Clubs Championship for able-bodied athletes in Muscat, competing with Al-Kahraba Club.

“Alhamdulillah for achieving the bronze medal in our first participation in the Arab Clubs Championship for able-bodied athletes in Muscat, where I represented Al-Kahraba Club with my teammates,” Emad wrote on Facebook. “This participation was one of the best steps in my sporting career and an amazing experience, as I had the chance to compete with able-bodied players from other clubs. It will help me maintain my global ranking in Paralympic tournaments and gain more experience.”

She thanked her club’s leadership and coach. “Thanks to the club president, Mr. Ali Al-Asadi, for his constant support and care, and thanks to the club’s management without exception for their encouragement and unlimited support,” she wrote. “I also thank my international coach, Captain Haider Salim Al-Saadi. It is impossible to participate in a tournament with him without achieving something. Words cannot describe his effort and dedication with us during training and matches.”

Emad, 19, from Diyala governorate, made history at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games by winning Iraq’s first-ever gold medal, defeating world number one Maryna Lytovchenko of Ukraine in the table tennis women’s class six event.

Her victory in Paris was hailed as a milestone for Iraqi sports, with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani describing it as “a humanitarian message that transcended the ordeal of terrorism.”

Born in Diyala, Emad lost both legs and her right arm at the age of three after an explosive device detonated in her father’s military vehicle. A recent high school graduate, she has expressed interest in pursuing media studies.