A Palestinian weightlifter wept as he belatedly learnt of his young sister’s tragic death from illness — a day after he competed in the Asian Games.
Hani al-Qassas’s family and team kept the news from him until after his appearance at the Games, the first international competition he had permission to attend.
His five-year-old sister, who had fallen into a coma, died in Gaza three days before he was due to take his turn in the 77kg class.
“They did not tell me until a day after my participation,” a tearful Qassas told AFP.
His coach Hossam Hamada, crying too, said he was the first to find out.
“The news had a big impact on me because I had a similar situation with my sister,” said Hamada, who also comes from Gaza, where medical facilities are generally poor.
“I tried to hide the news from Hani, as far as I could.”
But Qassas, 23, realised something was going on.
“Their behaviour with me was unnatural. I told them ‘What is happening? Tell me!’,” he said.
It was the first time that Qassas had left the Gaza Strip to take part in a championship.
