Ankara ,SANA – Syrian athlete Hamza Al-Habbal won a silver medal in the standard-distance triathlon at the Asia-Europe Age-Group Championships, which concluded Sunday in Istanbul.
According to Dr. Dana Shubat, head of the Syrian Triathlon Federation, the competition marked the first time Asian and European athletes competed together outside the Olympic Games. Al-Habbal, a Syrian residing in Istanbul, was registered to compete under Syria and represented his country in the event.
He finished second in the standard-distance race, which included 2,200 meters of swimming, 40 kilometers of cycling, and 10 kilometers of running. Shubat noted that Al-Habbal completed the race without penalties despite it being his debut in the competition.
The federation emphasized the importance of engaging athletes athletes residing outside Syria saying their participation provides motivation for domestic players. Officials expressed hope that Syria could field elite-level competitors in next year’s edition.
The Asia-Europe Triathlon 2025 was the first joint event of its kind, held Aug. 30–31 in Istanbul, featuring separate continental races with age-group athletes from across both regions.
Reem / Manar Salameh
