Kickboxing Champion Badr Hari Reflects on COVID-19 Challenges in Emotional Post

"The last three months have been a painful experience. Covid and confinement were/are a difficult test that requires a life skill that challenges each of us: being able to overcome (strong) adversity. This could weaken you or strengthen you depending on your mindset and attitude," Badr Hari wrote on his Instagram account on Saturday.

Referring to the harsh reality of many athletes, the Moroccan kickboxing champion explained that the lack of prospects could harm motivation. "On my side, this unprecedented situation has made me realize how deep my concentration, hunger and love for kickboxing are," he said, adding that after the cancellation of all sporting events, his only goal was to emerge from this crisis stronger than ever.

"This was the only way to maintain a high level of daily effort," the athlete confides. "We are, I suppose, near the end of the tunnel. This is a great life lesson. Let’s use it to surprise the world," comments the Moroccan champion.

Badr Hari accompanied his message with a home workout session. After his defeat against Dutchman Rico Verhoeven in December 2019, the Moroccan is training hard to secure victory in their next encounter. But before that, he will have to face his opponent, Romanian Benjamin Adegbuyi. This fight, which was to take place on June 20 at the Rotterdam Ahoy Arena, has been postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus.