Table tennis champion Najla Imad Lafta secured a historic gold medal for Iraq in the final of the women’s class 6 at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
Beating Ukrainian Maryna Lytovchenko 3-1 in the final, Najla’s historic win is the first gold for Iraq in this year’s competition (and the first-ever gold medal won for the country in the sport).
Lafta beat Lytovchenko who was the Tokyo 2020 champion at the South Paris Arena on Saturday, marking a triumphant moment in her sporting career.
Lafta lost much of her right leg, left leg at the knee, and right forearm after a bomb attack on her father’s car in north-eastern Iraq when she was just three years old.
Determined to not let her disabilities prevent her from greatness, Lafta’s gold medal win represents a groundbreaking and inspirational feat.
She previously represented Iraq at the Tokyo 2020 games, becoming the youngest competitor ever at the Paralympic games at only 16 years-old.
Her monumental achievement at this year’s games is a moving and inspirational feat that will inspire for years to come.
ICYMI: These female athletes will represented MENA at the Paris 2024 Olympics.