Yahya Abu Tabeikh: Grappling with Olympic aspirations

For Yahya Abu Tabeikh, the silver medal he won at last December’s Asian Games was the latest milestone in a journey which he hopes will lead him to Olympic gold.

The wrestling sensation became an overnight star when he narrowly missed out on Asian Games gold in Doha. Amazingly the 24 year-old was disappointed with his performance and began plotting for his next challenge the very next day after his amazing exploits.

“I set my sights on gold at the Asian Games,” he said: “I beat the Qatari, Kyrgystan and the Iranian champions and in the final I played with the Korean Champion. I was seeing the Gold Medal in front of my eyes but he won according to the game's rules even though we were even. I was really sad not to win.

“I resumed training with my coach Jamal Al Fayez the very next day and will build up for the Beijing Olympics by participating in the Hungarian International Championships and the Egypt Pan Arab Games in the next 12 months.”

It has been a long road to achieve his place amongst the worl’s best in the 74kg section but his story has become a model of determination for any young Jordanian to follow.

"My story with wrestling started when I was 10 after I joined Al Ra'ed Sport Club which is close to where I live,” he said: “I saw athletes training and showing their talents that were based on physical strength. I fell in love with this sport because it represents power, challenge and the ability to move quickly. It involves quick thinking and making the right decisions in the right time to surprise the opponents to win.

“I joined the club and started training daily with the young team because I loved it so much. Under the supervision of my coach Sa'eed Darweesh, I was started to participate in the first time of my life in the Jordan Wrestling Championship for Youth when I was just 12. I achieved a Gold Medal and I consider this to be very special to me.

“I continued my training at the club then I was chosen to play with the youth team. I represented the club in many championships and won several medals but my biggest honour came when I was 16 and joined the Wrestling National Team for youth.

“I won silver at the Arab Youth Wrestling Championship in Egypt and then in 1999 I won gold at the 9th Pan Arab Games which were held right here in Jordan. It was such a special moment for me seeing the Jordanian flag raised for me with National Anthem playing.

The star admits that wrestling is the most important thing in his life. He keeps a strict daily training regime which has also helped him pick up gold medals at the 2002 Arab Wrestling Championship, Lebanon International Championship, Al Tahde Championship in Qatar and the Al Istekalal Championship in Amman.

Abu Tabeikh says that his best advice to youngsters coming into sport is to simply try their best and respect their opponents.

With Beijing 18 months away, Jordan’s search for its first ever Olympic medal could end in the tight grasp of Abu Tabeikh.