JEDDAH, 15 April 2005 — Saudi swimming sensation Ahmad Safwan Al-Kudmani said the Kingdom has high potential to produce world-beaters in individual sports.
But he said there has to be a government program that sponsors the training and exposure abroad of elite junior athletes at various sports.
Kudmani, who won the 50 meters breaststroke in new Arab record time of 28.99 seconds to land Saudi Arabia’s first gold of the Islamic Games on Saturday, was speaking to Arab News at the end of the swimming competition Wednesday.
An engineer by profession at Saudi Aramco, Kudmani said the case of world-class athlete Hadi Souan, who put Saudi Arabia on the world sporting map by winning silver in the last Olympics at Athens, is exceptional. “As it is, promising athletes don’t get the chance to have proper training and greater exposure unless they are in the military. Our elite junior elites have to be identified, sent abroad to train and study all the way up to college,” he said.
“We can achieve good results at the international level if we develop athletes between the ages of 10 and 12,” added Kudmani.
Explaining his debacle in the 100- and 200-meter distances, Kudmani said: “I didn’t get gold because obviously I wasn’t training for this event. For me to get close to my best time is great. And in no way was I disappointed. And it is like asking a sprinter why didn’t he win 400 meters. For the 100 meters again I am happy with the time and placing.”
He, however, noted the high quality of competition in swimming. He said, “The games thus far have been phenomenal and it is a great honor to participate in them and be part of the host country. It is also a great honor to give my country its first gold medal at these games.”
The captain of the Saudi Arabian national swimming team, Kudmani takes pride in the fact that “there is a very talented group of 13-17 year olds. They are GCC champions and Arab finalists and if they concentrate on their training you’ll see much greater accomplishments from them in the near future.”
Kudmani said, “There has to be more emphasis on individual sports like swimming and track field. But keep an eye on them for more surprises in future. Thank you all for all the kinds words and prayers. And thanks to Arab News.”
