IMAN SAMIR ALI

Egypt – Since she was seven years old, Rodayna Mohamed began her journey with Kung Fu, and the sport she entered with encouragement from her mother turned into an athletic path during which she achieved many championships, and became an essential part of her life and personality.

Rodayna Yasser Mohamed, 15 years old and a player at Assiut Sports Club, continues her training and seeks during the coming period to achieve her biggest dream of joining the Egyptian national team and representing Egypt in international championships.

She says that her entry into the world of sports was not the result of long planning, as her mother was the one with the idea of going to training at first, before the experience turned into a real love for the sport.

During her years of practicing sports, Rodayna Mohamed tried more than one sport, but she found herself more connected to Kung Fu and kickboxing, continuing training and competition and achieving results.

She recalls that her first participation came when she was eight years old, when she entered the Assiut Cup Championship and achieved first place, before moving on to participate in republic, sector, and regional championships. She noted that she has so far obtained about seven gold medals and one silver medal in republic and sector competitions, while her latest achievement was winning first place in the Egypt Open Championship held at Cairo International Stadium.

The family's position at the beginning was not unified regarding Rodayna Mohamed's choice of a combat sport, as her father was initially reserved, wondering why she chose this sport despite the existence of other sports she could practice. But her continuation in training, her diligence, and her success in achieving championships contributed to changing his position. She confirmed that her father and mother have become among her biggest supporters, alongside her coach and friends.

She says that her parents encourage her to continue, which gives her important support in light of the challenges that girls who practice combat sports may face.

She Overcame Obstacles with the Power of Will

In an environment where Rodayna Mohamed believes there is not a large turnout of girls for practicing sports, especially combat sports, she faced some criticism from those around her. She explained that there are those who wonder why a girl practices a sport like Kung Fu, or who see that there are other sports more suitable for girls, but she chose not to make these comments an obstacle before her.

She says that her love for the sport is what pushes her to continue, and that she has become less affected by others' criticism over time. She does not see that sport is limited to championships and medals, but considers that its impact has extended to her personality and daily life, foremost among which is increasing her self-confidence.

She explains that she previously hesitated to go alone to some places, but she has now become more capable of dealing with different situations, which she links to the confidence she gained during years of practicing sports. She also believes that practicing sports has reflected on her health, focus, and self-confidence, compared to what she was before practicing sports regularly.

Regarding balancing study and sports, Rodayna Mohamed says that, despite undergoing training, competitions, and sometimes traveling to participate in championships, she is keen not to allow sports to affect her studies. She is currently studying in the third preparatory grade and trains four days a week, with training duration ranging between two and three hours approximately. She noted that she organizes her time between study and training, and even after returning from practice she can complete her studying, despite the natural feeling of physical exhaustion.

During travel periods to participate in championships, she tries to complete what she can of her studies before traveling, and also uses the procedures followed through the federation to prove her participation in championships before the school.

Like any athlete, Rodayna Mohamed passed through periods during which she felt the difficulty of continuing, especially when her level declined or when she was subjected to criticism. She explains that these matters used to affect her in the past, and sometimes pushed her to stop for a period, but over time she gained greater ability to deal with these feelings, and became more determined to continue training even when results are not at their best.

She adds that her goal has become focusing on developing her level instead of being preoccupied with others' opinions. Regarding her ambition during the coming period, she says that her dream is to qualify for the national team and participate in championships in the name of Egypt, so that her experience moves from local competitions to representing her country at the international level.

Between study, training, travel, and championships, Rodayna Mohamed continues her athletic journey, relying on the support of her family and coach, and on a passion that began with her when she was seven years old, and over the years turned into an ambition to become a player representing Egypt in sports forums.