28 Aug 2025
Aspire Academy's student-athletes delivered some impressive performances at the 11th Arab Under-18 Athletics Championships in Tunis, Tunisia.
They won a total of five medals for Qatar at the championships, which attracted competitors from 18 Arab nations.
The outstanding performance from an Aspire Academy student-athlete came from Younes Al Baloushi, who is due to start grade 12 in September, as he won gold in the pole vault with a leap of 4.70m.
He finished ahead of fellow student-athlete Abdulla Al Abdulla, who claimed silver with 4.40m.
There was a bronze medal in the 110m hurdles for Mahamat Abakar Hissein, who, like Abdulla Al Abdulla, begins grade 11 next month.
Aspire Academy-trained Timo Jumaa claimed medals in the sprint events, taking silver in the 100m and following that with bronze in the 200m.
Aboubakar Adam Ibrahim Idriss, one of the competition's younger competitors at 15 years old, gained valuable international experience despite not advancing beyond the heats of the 110m hurdles.
Aspire Academy's pole vault coach, Jaco Van Vuuren, praised his two student-athletes and is confident the experience will help them continue to improve.
"Their success has not come easily, and both athletes are realising that there are no quick fixes in sport or in life, and these kinds of outstanding achievements come with a lot of effort. It doesn't come easy," he explained.
"They are also starting to look at themselves as representatives of Qatar, and they are fighting not just for themselves but also to build the reputation of Qatar, wherever they travel."
"This is all part of our training at Aspire Academy to instil this kind of passion and dedication to the cause to motivate them to do their very best."
Qatar's other medals at the championships came from Mubarak Saeed (1500m gold), Abdul Razzaq Idris (400m hurdles gold), and Saleh Mahmoud (shot put gold and discus bronze).
The achievements of the Qatar team at the championships continue to strengthen the collaboration between Aspire Academy and the Qatar Athletics Federation, ensuring further success.