KUWAIT CITY, June 20: Hisham Hatab, President of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, Inaugurates Prestigious Championship at Cairo International Stadium

The 18th World Junior and Masters Finswimming Championships commenced today, with the official opening ceremony led by Hisham Hatab, President of the Egyptian Olympic Committee. The highly anticipated event is taking place at the Olympic swimming pool in Cairo International Stadium and features the participation of 36 countries, including Kuwait.

During his address, Hatab extended a warm welcome to all participating nations and the delegation of the International Diving Federation. He expressed his delight at Egypt hosting this championship and conveyed his confidence in the tournament's success.

The opening ceremony captivated the audience with vibrant displays of participating delegations and captivating water and musical performances. The World Junior Diving and Rescue Championship is scheduled to take place from June 20 to 24, followed by the Masters Championship on June 25 and 26.

Talal Al-Sarhan, President of the Kuwait Diving Federation and President of the West Asian Federation, affirmed Kuwait's readiness for the championship. In an exclusive statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), he described the Kuwaiti delegation's participation as "exceptional" among the International Diving Federation's championships.

Al-Sarhan expressed his team's excitement to be part of this grand event and emphasized their preparedness and strength. He highlighted that this competition marks Kuwait's first foray into the junior and masters category. Al-Sarhan expressed hopes for the Kuwaiti national team to achieve commendable results, as well as the Arab teams to secure podium finishes.

Al-Sarhan revealed that the Kuwaiti national team commenced preparations for the tournament last year and praised the support received from Sheikh Fahad Nasser Al-Sabah, President of the Kuwaiti Olympic Committee, and the Public Authority for Sports. Their backing has enabled Kuwait's participation and aims to leave a lasting impression on this championship.

The Kuwaiti delegation, headed by Hani bin Hussein, Technical Committee Head in the Kuwaiti Diving Federation, will consist of five swimmers: Dana Al-Zawawi, Israa Jassim, Abdulaziz Al-Rish, Suwaid Al-Ajmi, and Mansour Al-Mansour.

Bin Hussein outlined the participation of each swimmer, with Al-Zawawi competing in various junior races, including the 50-meter mono and 100-meter events. Jassim, Al-Rish, and Al-Ajmi will participate in the masters races across multiple categories, such as the 50-meter underwater and 50-100-200-400 meter fins. Al-Mansour will be competing in the 50-meter underwater race, with high hopes for securing top positions and medals.

The championship will witness the involvement of approximately 400 male and female athletes from 36 countries worldwide, including Kuwait. They will engage in 32 races, consisting of 26 individual races (13 for boys and 13 for girls) and 6 relays (2 relays for boys, 2 relays for girls, and 2 mixed relays).