DHAHRAN: The very first thing you discover about Dhahran’s Sama Al-Bakr is her lean physique, dimpled smile, targeted gaze, and lengthy darkish hair, neatly tied by her mom in a variation of a braid, her signature coiffure.
At age 7, Sama is already a tennis pioneer in Saudi Arabia. With a cupboard filled with trophies, all received over the past yr or so, she is taken into account a neighborhood champion.
Her father, Ali, isn’t far behind her. Protecting, but affected person, he’s there to assist strike a stability, fostering Sama’s expertise, whereas holding her on observe. He encourages her to coach onerous, but in addition savor the journey.
The sound of a tennis ball bouncing off a wall is a continuing within the Al-Bakr family. And that echo goes nicely past their house — Sama is at all times down for a tennis match or something tennis-related.
Earlier than follow one morning, Sama was seen by Arab Information intently dipping freshly baked cookies right into a cup of sizzling chocolate. The candy goodness appeared to gas her and provides her pleasure.
However nothing made her eyes mild up fairly like discussing her favourite sport. “I like tennis; it’s so enjoyable to play,” Sama, whose title interprets to “sky” in Arabic, informed Arab Information.
About 4 years in the past, the Al-Bakr household’s tennis journey started with a tennis racket that belonged to Sama’s father. It was a present from his personal father, who by no means performed tennis, and had remained untouched for years till Al-Bakr determined to provide it a spin in the course of the pandemic.
He determined to study to play tennis as a method of holding energetic in the course of the COVID-19 lockdown, however had no concept that the unused racket would open the door to a tennis-centric household journey.
“Dad, what’s that?” Sama requested him when she noticed the racket. “It’s for tennis — do you need to strive?” he replied.
After studying the fundamental guidelines, they cleared the furnishings out of their lounge, making area for his or her new-found tennis goals. He informed her to strive hitting the tennis ball on the wall to see what would occur.
Tennis quickly grew to become Sama’s favourite pastime, and the room her sanctuary. Even in the present day, no one is allowed in that room however Sama. It’s the place she goes to calm down after a protracted day learning within the second grade.
“When she comes house, when one thing has occurred, you’ll hear it,” her father joked. “You’ll hear the bang, bang! No person touches the place. It’s for Sama. She nonetheless practices there; it’s nonetheless her place now.”
Sama’s 12-year-old sister had dabbled with tennis earlier than deciding to pursue different pursuits. Sama’s curiosity by no means faltered, nonetheless — it’s tennis, tennis, tennis, on a regular basis. She stays targeted and excited concerning the sport, and runs out gleefully when her favourite coach — employed by her father — is able to give her a lesson.
“I’m studying together with her. I’m watching YouTube, I’m wanting issues up on-line as we go,” her father stated.
He now not has time to play on his personal, as all of his taking part in vitality is targeted on serving to to enhance Sama’s sport. In his spare time, he researches the perfect coaches for her age group, even when they’re within the Czech Republic, and tries to review the perfect follow routines.
Since they’ve entry, Sama additionally trains in Aramco services; the camp has a protracted historical past of incorporating tennis as a part of the Aramco subculture. They’ve a tennis courtroom for kids the place Sama mixes with different gamers her age. She trains with a coach 4 days every week and has gone via a number of coaches to seek out the best one.
Other than desirous to play at Wimbledon someday, she enjoys competing in Saudi Arabia.
Princess Delayel bint Nahar Al-Saud, deputy director of the Saudi Video games, is one among Sama’s most vocal supporters. On the latest Saudi Video games in Riyadh, Princess Delayel posted a photograph with Sama on X.
On Dec. 4, she wrote a caption beside their smiling faces: “So happy with our rising tennis star Sama Al-Bakr … who will increase the Saudi flag tomorrow on the opening of the tennis event as our youngest participant ever on the age of seven.”
The Saudi Video games, which introduced collectively greater than 6,000 athletes from 50 totally different sports activities in a nationwide celebration late final yr, was an opportunity for the younger athlete to mingle with different star athletes within the nation.
“Sports activities is a vital and evolving a part of what it’s to be Saudi. We take delight in our athletes and their successes,” Princess Delayel informed Arab Information in November.
“At this yr’s Saudi Video games, we won’t solely have fun the winners, however we may even have fun each participant and, as a nation, we’ll have fun ourselves.”
As an aspiring athlete in her youth, Princess Delayel had felt the constraints within the Kingdom first-hand whereas pursuing aggressive equestrian present leaping.
She took Sama below her wing on the Saudi Video games, however their correspondence didn’t cease when the video games ended. They now sometimes alternate voice notes over WhatsApp, and the increase helps Sama’s confidence to maintain going.
Most of the Kingdom’s finest gamers have competed in Bahrain, a brief drive through the King Fahd Causeway. One other Saudi tennis participant, Yara Al-Hogbani, 19, is famously the primary Saudi girl to show skilled and has been registered on the Al-Ittihad Membership since 2018.
“All people, look out for this infant. She’s the way forward for Saudi tennis,” Al-Hogbani wrote on her Instagram account not too long ago, tagging Sama.
Her household plans to let Sama flip professional “until one thing else occurs,” her father stated.
He likes to maintain his daughter’s choices open, and doesn’t need her plagued with strain or to lose her ardour for the game. So long as she loves tennis, they’ll pursue it severely, and play tournaments and practice. He guarantees that on the day Sama decides it’s not enjoyable anymore, they’ll cease.
“Now what makes ‘champions’ totally different? They’ve the best setup. We’ve got seen quite a lot of blessings previously few months,” he proudly stated of his daughter.
Whereas recognition within the Kingdom’s capital and in Bahrain is appreciated, what the household desires most is for his or her hometown of Dhahran to be the following fertile subject for Sama and different younger stars of the long run.
Talking about what he envisions for the way forward for Saudi athletes, her father stated: “I would like everybody to have a task mannequin. Sama may be that for them.”
Sama is enrolled at Dhahran Ahliyya College, one of many main non-public faculties within the Jap Province, which started prioritizing bodily training and a wholesome way of life for ladies nicely earlier than it was inspired by Imaginative and prescient 2030. The college doesn’t have tennis as a part of its bodily training curriculum, however college students are inspired to play basketball and soccer.
“Folks in Saudi Arabia are serious about tennis; they love this sport and love this sport. And perhaps we should always give attention to it. It shouldn’t solely be central to Riyadh, Sama is right here in Sharqiya … we would like Sharqiya to be happy with her,” her father stated.
He additionally hopes Sama’s faculty will introduce tennis so women can benefit from the sport.
When Arab Information requested Sama who she wish to ideally play with sooner or later, her father started mentioning just a few embellished tennis gamers’ names. She nodded or shook her head as he listed them, however ultimately sweetly tilted her head and stated: “I prefer to play with Baba.”
