06 Mar 2022
Aspire Academy current student-athlete Rakan Mesfer Al -Harith represented Qatar at the 14th Taishan Artistic Gymnastics World Cup at the iconic Aspire Dome last week.
Rakan finished 30th in the men’s Pommel Horse qualifiers. Yet, it was a creditable performance given the fact that the 17-year-old was up against some of the best in this apparatus.
Rakan, a Grade 12 student at the Aspire Academy, collected 10.833 points with a combined 7.033 in ‘Execution’ and 3.8 scores in ‘Difficulty’.
“He has good potential and mentality of a champion. He has been training hard and has the ability to do well in future,” said Mazin Al Mustafa, Level 3 FIG Academy coach.
Last December, the Aspire Academy student-athlete did the country proud by winning a bronze on the Pommel Horse at the Pharaohs International Cup for Artistic Gymnastics held in Egypt.
Commenting on the Qatari gymnast, Mazin, who was one of his youth coaches including Mohsin Talal Yousuf, Nouriddine Yahwiyah during his formative years at the Qatar Gymnastics Federation training camps, added, “Rakan’s basics are correct. He can do much better, but he has to improve a lot in vault and parallel bar.”
Aspire Academy over the years has done a lot to promote and develop gymnastics, one of the most important segments in sports.
Rakan’s success once again showcases Academy’s efforts and a dedicated approach especially by the school staff, teachers, sports department, Leadership Development Programme, doctors and physiotherapists in churning future sports stars for the country.