Ibrahim Al-Husseini Hamato is a 41 years old Egyptian amputee table tennis player who holds the bat with his mouth. Ibrahim lost his arms in an accident when he was 10 years old. This experience could not deter him from pursuing his love, table tennis. His fervent love for the game led him to try different ways of holding the bat. He eventually settled for holding the the bat with his mouth. He tosses the ball with his foot in order to serve. He has become so good that he can hold his own against the world's top table tennis players.
Ibrahim Hamato is a two-time African Championship silver medalist and he has qualified for the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from September 7-18, 2016. He attended the ZEN-NOH 2014 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Tokyo, Japan as an honored guest. His dexterity wowed all who watched him play, including some of the best table tennis players in the world. In 2014, the International Table Tennis Federation invited him to the World Champion in Tokyo to compete against the world’s top players. He was ranked No. 32 in 2006.
Hamato's motto is 'nothing is impossible as long as you work hard.' He enjoys tremendous support form his lovely wife, who he says is everything to him.
Ibrahim Hamato's story powerfully exemplifies the power of a resilient spirit, and should encourage everyone who is experiencing any form of handicap.
Watch Ibrahim Hamato in action in the following videos.
