Colby Covington hopes to inspire Arab fighters at Abu Dhabi tournament
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Khaleej Times
www.khaleejtimes.com

Colby Covington hopes to inspire Arab fighters at Abu Dhabi tournament

Colby Covington, an American freestyle wrestler, is among the athletes who have received calls from the US President. He still enthusiastically recalls his conversation with Donald Trump in 2018 after winning a fight in the Octagon.

However, Covington is now excited about the prospect of watching four Arab fighters at the RAF (Real American Freestyle) event in Abu Dhabi on November 14th. The main event of the tournament at the Etihad Arena will be Covington's match against Hamzat Chimayev, a star from Russia and the UAE, in the heavyweight crossover championship.

Significant attention will also be paid to fighters from Bahrain—Hamza Kuhaiji and Murtaza Talha, Jordan—Ali Al-Qaisi, and Egypt—Osama Elsayed, as these four Arab athletes are ready to demonstrate their skills in the RAF, the professional unsanctioned freestyle wrestling league.

Covington supported the Arab fighters, expressing hope that they can succeed on the big stage. He stated: 'It is very important to use local athletes from the markets we visit and show this region that one day they can be on this stage.'

In Covington's opinion, wrestling can change destinies, and he shared lessons with young athletes that they can learn from his experience—daily hard work to achieve a dream. He added: 'I hope I can be a good example and role model for these guys.'

He emphasized that he is motivated by self-belief and is not afraid of battles, stating: 'I love to fight. Sometimes you need to be ready to fight for your dreams.'

For athletes, wrestling is not just about inflicting damage on an opponent with strength and skill, but also about the ability to overcome life's difficulties. Covington explained that it is not about physical fighting with hands, but about the need for deep inner searching for confidence and overcoming all doubts. He noted: 'You have to overcome all distractions and all people who say you won't achieve anything. That is the essence of wrestling.'

He expressed hope that he can teach these athletes to fight for what they want in life so that they can change their lives and provide a better future for their families.

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Rachel Apa, a resident of Lewisberry in Pennsylvania, participated in the New York Marathon on Sunday. She ran alongside participants of the Parkinson's Foundation to raise funds and pay tribute to her grandfather, who suffered from the disease.

According to information published on the fundraising page, the 24-year-old runner suddenly lost consciousness and died just three kilometers from the finish line. Her father told the New York Times that despite Rachel being in 'perfect health and excellent shape,' this was her first marathon, although she regularly exercised and had been training for months.

The cause of death was rhabdomyolysis—a rare condition where muscles break down and poison the blood, which can be triggered by excessive exertion. When the runner was approximately three kilometers from completing the marathon, she lost consciousness in Central Park. A bystander who was not participating in the race began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation before the medical team arrived, according to the New York Road Runners organization to CBS News.

The New York Police Department issued a statement that did not name Rachel. She was taken to the hospital in critical condition and passed away that evening. The death is currently under investigation by the city's medical examiner's office.

Around 29 kilometers into the run, The Times reported that Rachel sent a text message to her father with the word 'Ai,' and a little over a kilometer later, 'Ai ai,' before sending the message 'trecho final' at 37 kilometers.

New York Road Runners issued a statement received by CBS, expressing deep sorrow over Rachel's death after participating in Sunday's race. They conveyed their thoughts and sincere condolences to her family, friends, and the entire running community.

Rachel earned a degree in Business Administration in 2024 from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, where she also played field hockey, according to her LinkedIn profile viewed by the BBC. Before the marathon, she wrote on the fundraising page about how much her grandfather meant to her, whom she was honoring with this run. She wrote: 'He was my role model in childhood and adolescence.' She added: 'He taught me to stay active, overcome my limits, and embrace challenges, shaping my love for sports and movement.'

She also shared that the man was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease: 'I watched as the disease slowly took away his freedom of movement, which he loved so much. The lessons he taught me continue to motivate me.'

This year, over 61,000 people participated in the New York Marathon, making it the third consecutive year that the world record for marathon participation has been broken.

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