Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar Foundation (QF) not only offers the best in higher education, but also gives students, whose academic aspirations are matched by their ambitions to achieve extra-curricular excellence such as in art or sport, the resources they need to fulfill their potential in both these spheres. Nineteen-year-old Noof al Mazrooei is one such student.
There are quite a few ways of introducing Mazrooei: a second-year undergraduate student at QF partner university Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q); a political science buff; a keen squash player; and a first-rate fencer who represents Qatar in the sport. But in just one short chat with her, you discover that the words ‘steely determination’ define her best.
As a member of Qatar’s national fencing team, Mazrooei participates in the épée, one of the three categories of fencing. She has won gold medals at local and regional level, and recently competed in the World Grand Prix 2018 in Qatar, against some of the sport’s top-ranking players.
Mazrooei’s journey all the way to competing in her nation’s name began seven years ago. She was barely 12 when she picked up a fencing sword for the very first time, at Aspire Academy.
Upon completing high school, Mazrooei set her sights on something that was at the top of her list of priorities: a QF education. With this in mind, she joined the Academic Bridge Program, part of QF’s Pre-University Education. In the meantime, her renewed interest in fencing saw her train regularly, improve her skills and co-ordination and take part in local competitions.
It was only when she was invited to join Qatar’s national fencing team that Mazrooei realised just how far her fencing skills had progressed – and that if she wanted to develop her game further, she would have to devote more time to the sport.
Mazrooei, who had by then been accepted to study at GU-Q, recalls feeling daunted at the idea of training for a national team while attending university. And with good reason – over half her fencing team-mates had sacrificed studies for sport training. She knew it would be easier for her to follow their lead. Yet, not once did Mazrooei entertain the idea of compromising her studies for sport, or vice versa.
"For me, a QF education is everything,” she says. "I knew that by joining GU-Q, I would be taught by some of the best faculty in the world, and have access to excellent resources. But I wanted to fence too.” Mazrooei’s array of achievements include medals in competitions at Aspire Academy, Qatar’s School Olympic program and the QFF Open Ramadan Epee competition. She is equally keen to give her best in her university course – a task that often pushes her to her limits.
"I think the biggest advantage that I have had by being part of Qatar Foundation is that I have access to some of the best training facilities,” she says. "When I have long breaks in between my classes, I train at the gym, or go running in Oxygen Park in Education City.” Mazrooei says that fencing has shaped her outlook towards life; ultimately, she hopes to pioneer a movement that sees even more women and girls take up sport in Qatar.
"And what I tell myself is that I’m here because I want the best of both worlds – a Qatar Foundation education and success as a world-class fencer.”