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Schoolboy water polo player not out of his depth

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-12-03 17:09

DOHA - Qatari water polo player Ali Abdin insists he wont be out of his depth at the Asian Games, despite facing competitors 32 years his senior.

Abdin will be up against hardened veterans in the tough, physically demanding sport, but the 12-year-old is showing no signs of being intimidated.

"I'm not scared," the centre forward said. "I've played with older players before."

Abdin, who took up the sport at the age of eight and is the youngest water polo player at the Doha Games, says he would love to earn a medal in Doha but was equally happy just pulling on the trunks for Qatar.

"It would be great to win in my first Asian Games," he said.

"I am playing for pride in my country and lifting my flag up high."

Qatar take on Iran in their opening water polo match on Thursday.