This archive report was first published on 28 August 2021.
At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, Kenyan Paralympian Asiya Mohamed made a remarkable impression in the PR1 Women's Single Sculls event, despite falling short of the medal bracket.
Competing in Heat two of the repechage on Saturday, August 25, 2021, Asiya demonstrated her competitive character and attitude by coasting home in 13:14.26, a time her coach Joshua Kandagor described as a step in the right direction.
"This far we have come is encouraging. Asiya is up against athletes with many years of experience. What she has managed here in Japan is remarkable and says a lot about her competitive character and attitude," Kandagor said after the Saturday showdown.
Asiya's performance was impressive, but she ultimately finished behind gold medal favourite Moran Samwel of Israel, who won the Saturday repechage in 10:33.34, and Germany's Sylvia Pille-Steppart, who finished second in 10:49.78.
Sejeong Kim of South Korea and Liudmila Vauchok of Belarus completed the top four spots, with Asiya holding the slowest time of the six in the ranking showdown.
Asiya's target is not to be the last in this tough sport, as she prepares for the Paralympics Games.
