Algerian Judoka - First Arab to win an Olympic medal in Beijing

"I am very happy that I won the bronze medal for my country and I hope to win more medals in the future," said Soraya Haddad.

By THE MEDIA LINE NEWS AGENCY
Soraya Haddad 224 88 (photo credit: )
Soraya Haddad 224 88
(photo credit: )
The Arab world celebrated on Sunday its first medal in Beijing, when Soraya Haddad, a female Judo player from Algeria, won the bronze medal in the 52kg category. Haddad participated in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, where she finished in ninth place in the 48-kg category. Since then, the Algerian achieved several important titles, including the bronze medal in the 2005 World Championship in Cairo (48kg), the silver medal in the 2005 Super World Cup in Hamburg (52kg), the silver medal in the 2008 Super World Cup in Paris (52kg) and the bronze medal in the 2008 Super World Cup in Hamburg (52kg). "I am very happy that I won the bronze medal for my country and I hope to win more medals in the future," said Haddad according to the news agencies. Chairman of the Algerian Judo Association, Muhammad Marija, was excited after the competition and expressed his hope that other Arab athletes would be encouraged by the achievement. "There are Arab champions in the highest levels, who are able to stand on the winners' podium," Marija added according to Al-JazeeraSport.Net.