From struggling at sea to playing golf in Dubai - a refugee's journey (As-salamu alaykum)
As-salamu alaykum. An Afghan refugee-turned-golfer shared how grateful he was that nerves didn’t overwhelm him on the first day of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Dubai.
Iqbal Wali, 38, finished the opening round with a score of 10-over par 82. It wasn’t near the lead in a tournament that offers the winner a spot at next year’s big championships, but it was much better than some others on the leaderboard and, more importantly, a personal milestone for him.
Being there at all is an achievement. Considering everything he has faced, it’s no wonder he doesn’t scare easily - even when it’s just about hitting a small white ball across a course.
Wali never had formal golf lessons. He first noticed the sport watching TV back home and got his first experience at Kabul’s only golf club, which had no grass - just rough sandy fairways and brown greens.
“People love cricket and football and athletics in Afghanistan,” he said. “Golf is very new. When we played in parks or empty sandy grounds, people watched from the streets wondering what we were doing.”
He learned by watching American soldiers practise on the base where he worked as an interpreter during the war. The job was dangerous when out on missions in tanks and helicopters; the base itself was safer but leaving it for patrols carried big risks.
After fleeing Afghanistan in 2010, Wali described himself as a weekend golfer in the years after arriving in Australia. He explained he had to wait to apply for protection but chose to take the risk of travelling without funds, crossing Indonesia and then the ocean to Australia aboard a crowded boat. That crossing, he says, was the most dangerous journey he experienced.
Wali speaks Dari, Urdu, Pashtu and English, and his language skills and experience working with international forces helped him when he reached Australia. Once settled, he worked as a translator and assisted with casework on family violence for about 12 years, while developing his golf game.
“My improvement in golf has been in Australia over the past 15 years,” he said. “I never had a coach or lessons. I learned from videos and by fixing my mistakes.” He’s had some advice from club professionals at Royal Hobart Golf Club in Tasmania, where he now lives.
He took leave from his job in the asylum support system to compete in Dubai and is unsure what work he’ll return to, though he hopes golf may play a role thanks to connections he’s made at this event. He’s grateful for the warm welcome he received from organisers and officials and says it was an honour to be part of such a respected tournament.
On the Majlis Course he felt pleased with his performance, even if the back nine cost him a few shots.
“I recovered well but finished with two bogeys,” he said. “I’m happy. It’s beautiful. This is my first big competition, and I’m proud the nerves didn’t get to me. I was even okay in front of the cameras. Playing, practising and meeting people here is a big honour.”
May Allah bless him with continued opportunities and ease in his journey.
https://www.thenationalnews.co