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Friday 43 Sports Friday, March 29, 2019 Disabled Kazakhs fight for rights amid Paralympics push to hold World Para Powerlifting Championships this summer

ALMATY: In a gym in Kazakhstan’s largest city disabled, particularly in the last decade. But the Almaty, Paralympic weightlifter Alina Solo- overhaul of the Soviet approach to disability that dukhina’s slight shoulders are feeling the strain saw handicapped people live in isolation from under more than 60 kilogrammes of cast iron. society has been plodding. “Just getting out of Solodukhina, who has dwarfism and is 125 cen- the house is hard enough,” said wheelchair- timetres (4.1 feet) tall, began weightlifting in bound activist Zhaslan Suleimenov. 2017 and won a bronze medal at the Asian Par- Suleimenov, 42, who is based in the capital alympic Games in last year. Astana, recently renamed Nur-Sultan in honour Her success is symbolic of the ex-Soviet of the country’s first president Nursultan country’s drive to brand itself as a new power in Nazarbayev, faces multiple barriers to social in- para sports, even though disabled Kazakhs en- tegration. counter multiple obstacles in everyday life and In 2009, Suleimenov was sentenced to prison progress to make society more inclusive is slow. on extremism charges that he contested both “For the moment, all my focus is on this,” the during and after the eight years he spent behind 25-year-old said of the World Para Powerlifting bars, where he said he experienced torture and Championships the country is hosting this sum- mistreatment. Conditions, particularly for dis- mer. A successful showing could help her qualify abled prisoners, were “terrible”, he said, a factor for the Paralympic Games in next year. that motivated his activism. Conditions for But Solodukhina would also like the bid to handicapped people in the capital are not much promote para sports to lead to a better life for better, said Suleimenov, pointing to inaccessible some of her colleagues in the weightlifting team streets and public transport. and other disabled people. “My condition does Last year, Kazakh authorities proudly un- not stop me doing what I want to do. But for veiled a training centre for disabled athletes just wheelchair users, life is far more difficult,” she outside the capital but getting there is challeng- said after a training session taking in bench ing. “That place is on the other side of the river. ALMATY: Kazakh Paralympic weightlifter Alina Solodukhina, 25, trains at a gym in Almaty presses, weight machines and a stint on the Reaching it would be a struggle for me,” said on March 20, 2019. — AFP treadmill. “I would not say (Kazakhstan) has ex- Suleimenov. On a recent afternoon Suleimenov cellent conditions for them.” tried to squeeze his wheelchair into a narrow lift asked a man nearby to lift him out of the wheel- thick and sticky coating of ice and compressed Kazakhstan ratified the UN Convention on outside the office of a local non-profit organisa- chair and place him on a chair taken from the or- snow that typically covers the city into the the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2015 tion where he is volunteering while participating ganisation’s office to make the journey down to spring months. “We have to hope for the help of and has claimed improvements in inclusion and in a vocational training programme. the ground floor. Leaving the building, his next passersby,” he said after one loaded him onto a access for over 600,000 people registered as After several failed attempts, Suleimenov challenge was a five-minute manoeuvre over the bus home. — AFP

HIGHLANDER SMITH FACES ons seek a fourth victory in six outings One good Read, WEEKS OUT this . The struggling Highlanders have The side hope to complete a Kane eyes NFL two Folaus: a , but they still suffered a potentially hat-trick of victories over the in the devastating blow this week when it was re- Indian Ocean city after winning 40-10 last after football career vealed that their All Black -half season and 30-17 the year before. Aaron Smith faces an extended injury lay- LOS ANGELES: striker Harry Kane is keen to pur- off. The Highlanders have only two wins ONE FOLAU ISN’T ENOUGH sue a kicking career in the NFL once his football days are talking points and now face a tough run including four Folau’s younger brother John behind him. The Tottenham star told ESPN in an interview derbies in the next five could make his Super Rugby debut for the Wednesday he believes his dead ball ability could translate : Four talking points ahead weeks almost certainly without their 82- NSW Waratahs on Friday alongside his to success as an NFL place kicker one day. “That’s real,” of this week’s games in Super Rugby: Test star. superstar sibling against ’s Sun- Kane told ESPN of his NFL ambitions. “Something that in 10 Smith picked up an ankle injury late in wolves. or 12 years I definitely want to try.” READ READY TO ROLL last week’s loss to and John, a wing who has played rugby Kane is a huge NFL fan and has forged a friendship with All Blacks skipper will be coach Aaron Mauger told stuff.co.nz he league with the , was a late New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady via social back at No.8 on Friday to give a timely lift would be out “for four to six weeks” and call-up to the bench after was media in recent years, stating that he has drawn inspiration to the Canterbury as they return he would look for an experienced halfback ruled out with an injury. from the six-time Super Bowl winner’s career. to New Zealand to take on the in to fill in. “We’re not in this week so we have The Waratahs are looking build on last Kane said his desire to attempt to break into the NFL as Wellington. “It’s been awesome watching the a bit of time up our sleeves to have a look week’s upset of the reigning champion a kicker was linked to his competitive drive. “It goes back to boys go well, but I have been really enjoying around,” he said. Crusaders in , but they will have to that drive to be the best,” he told ESPN. “Even if I download training the last few weeks,” said the double do so without Wallabies and a game on my phone, can I be the best in the world? World Cup-winning back row forward. NO BULL FROM HUMAN Adam Ashley-Cooper, who are being “If you play in the Premier League and the World Cup and “I can’t wait now,” added Read, who sat Northern travel to their favourite rested. you then play in the NFL would you then be considered one out the first six weeks while his bad back away venue-Kings Park in -with The New South club will venture of the greatest sportsmen ever?” Kane, 25, would be well into coach Pote Human insisting their 56-20 was kept in cotton wool ahead of him lead- north from Sydney to Newcastle for a his 30s by the time he attempted to break into the NFL. mauling by the last weekend is ing New Zealand’s campaign for a third Super Rugby match for the first time as However NFL kickers regularly play deep into their 30s firmly behind them. straight trophy in Japan later this year. they host the Japan side. and early 40s in a position which requires them to be on the Human has made two changes to the Defending champions Crusaders have “This round for us will be celebrating field for just a few seconds per game. Indianapolis Colts starting XV after the Pretoria debacle, endured a difficult two weeks with the gun country rugby and with close to 30 per- kicker Adam Vinatieri is the oldest active player in the NFL bringing in scrum-half and attacks in their home city of cent of the squad hailing from the regional at the age of 46. Kane meanwhile said Brady’s career path- deeply affecting all at the club and then lock . where he was an unfancied late draft pick who would become “We trained well this week and have NSW, we recognise just how important seeing their 19-match win streak ended in country rugby is to our player pathways,” the greatest quarterback in history-had inspired him in his Sydney last Saturday by the NSW put that humiliating loss behind us,” in- said coach Daryl Gibson. — AFP own career. — AFP Waratahs. sisted Human as the three-time champi-