Filipina wife gives Qatari lifter extra lift

Standing close to six feet and weighing more than 200 pounds, Ali Abdulla Mohammed of Qatar is your typical powerlifter.

So, it’s nice to know that this six-time Asian champion and two-time Olympian is proudly married to a Filipina, with whom he has five children, the eldest at 21 years and the youngest at five months.

Ali, at 46 still regarded as one of the finest athletes in Qatar, is in the country as part of the 15th Doha Asian Games Torch Relay, which hits the streets of Metro Manila tomorrow.

Ali, a veteran of many Asian battles, is a member of the Qatari Police, and for reasons he did not reveal wears prosthetics on his left leg, explaining his stints in the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Paralympics.

The Qatari national was a big hit among those who attended yesterday’s Doha Torch Relay press launch at the elegant New World Renaissance Hotel in Makati City.

"Mga kababayan (countrymen), hi," Ali said over the microphone after he was introduced as one of the 125 athletes and officials who will carry the torch in and around 10 cities, and a distance of 76 kms.

"First of all, my wife is Filipina," he continued. "And for your information, I have a daughter who’s taking up medicine in London. She’s so smart because her mother is Filipina. And not because of me."

He became an instant celebrity, drawing chants of "A-li! A-li! A-li!"

"I’m so proud to be here. I’m proud to carry the torch. For me it’s a dream. I can’t imagine being here in Manila to carry the torch. So I thank the Asian Games for inviting me," he added.

During tomorrow’s relay, Ali will be joined by fellow athletes from the Philippines, from Eric Buhain to Mikee Cojuangco, Onyok Velasco, Paeng Nepomuceno and Elma Muros.

While at the podium, Ali glanced at the official torch that was on display, and said he couldn’t wait to get his hands on it, for the relay and even long after the event.

"I’m going to get one and give it to my children. And God knows, my daughter who’s taking medicine, she gets to have a child, so she will give it to my grandson. Then I’m going to be so proud," he said.

And came another big round of applause for the great Qatari athlete.