Visually impaired athlete brothers aim for gold medal in Turkish Championship

Visually impaired siblings from Siirt will run for the gold medal in the Para Athletics Türkiye Championship.

Brothers Mehmet Reşit (25) and Aydın İmaç (17), who are 90 percent visually impaired from birth, started athletics 6 months ago upon the advice of their coach Cemal Yusufoğlu.

The brothers, who are fans of Galatasaray's Nigerian star Victor Osimhen and Argentinian striker Mauro Icardi, became passionately devoted to athletics with the support of their coach and other athletes.

Athletes, who are training at the Atatürk Stadium under the management of athletics coach Cemal Yusufoğlu with the support of Provincial Director of Youth and Sports İsmail Çalgan, will compete for medals in the Para Athletics Turkish Championship to be organized by the Turkish Visually Impaired Sports Federation in Eskişehir on June 24-26.

Mehmet Reşit İmaç told AA correspondent that they continued to enjoy the sport they started with the advice of their coaches.

Mehmet Reşit, who stated that they had a hard time in the first days but did not give up, said, "Our feet were aching but now, God willing, we will participate in the first competitions. We used to be very bored at home, we were always sitting. After athletics, our lives changed, it became more colorful. Our feet are opening, sports are health before anything else. We are happy when we run."

Mehmet Reşit İmaç, who stated that he wanted to wear the national jersey and represent Türkiye in the best way possible, stated that they were making efforts to achieve this goal.

Mehmet Reşit, who mentioned that he is a fan of Icardi and Osimhen and that he goes to training with Galatasaray jersey, said, "When I go to training with their jerseys, I get extra strength and motivation. In addition to the national team jersey, my biggest dream is to watch the Galatasaray match and come together with Osimhen and Icardi."

Aydın İmaç also stated that he wanted to return with a gold medal from the Turkish Championship to be held in Eskişehir, and said, "Before athletics, we were bored in the neighborhood because our friends were going to sports but we could not. I was sad when I saw them. We started sports 6 months ago upon the invitation of our teacher and we continue to enjoy it."

Coach Cemal Yusufoğlu said that the İmaç brothers, who came together about 6 months ago, could only run 1-2 laps at first due to their disabilities, and added, "They got better every day. They can now run for about 1 hour. We continue to support them."

Yusufoğlu, who stated that Mehmet Reşit and Aydın İmaç were aiming to join the national team, said, "They were stating that their lives were dark before they came here because they were visually impaired. I tried to be a light for them. If many more come, I will try to be a light and support them as much as I can."