Afghan judoka (born 2001)
Arab Sibghatullah (born 4 July 2001) is an Afghan judoka who competed with the Refugee Olympic Team at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Early life
Arab Sibghatullah was born in Kunduz, Afghanistan, on 4 July 2001. Encouraged by his brother, he started practicing judo at the age of eight in Kunduz, joining their national youth team at the age of nineteen.[1][2]
In 2021, Sibghatullah was forced to flee the Taliban in Afghanistan. He travelled 6,000 kilometres (3,700 mi) mainly by foot through thirteen countries including Iran, Turkey, Greece, Bosnia, and Slovenia.[3] He finally arrived in Germany in November 2022, where he was given aslyum.[4][5][6]
Life in Germany
Upon arriving in Germany, Sibghatullah was placed in a refugee center in Kamen, where he learned of a judo club with a coach who could speak Persian.[3]
Sibghatullah practices judo with the 1. Judo-Club in Mönchengladbach and at a training camp in Cologne.[5] He placed seventh in the Madrid European Open on 10 June 2023.[7]
Summer 2024 Olympics
On 2 May 2024, Sibghatullah was announced as a member of the Refugee Olympic Team for its participation in the 2024 Summer Olympics,[8] particularly in the Men's 81 kg event.[9] On 30 July, he was eliminated in the round of 32 in a match against Matthias Casse, which he lost with a score of 11–1.[10]
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