Photograph by Claire Behan
Andi Qorrolli has found his superpower in basketball.
Because the ball is handed hectically round him, the coaches shouting directions from the sidelines and spectators clapping from the stands, the 19-year-old stays completely calm and composed.
“I’m all the time chilled. I’m a grasp of endurance. I by no means been nervous or indignant.”
Andi Qorrolli – Particular Olympics Kosovo athlete
Nervousness, anger, frustration – Qorrolli confirmed none of those feelings when he performed for the Kosovo staff on the Regional West Balkans Unified 3×3 Basketball Match, which was held in Tirana, Albania from 1 to three December 2023.
True to his self-assessment, Qorrolli didn’t even get rattled when he managed to attain within the ultimate seconds of the match for third place in opposition to Shkoder, one of many 4 groups that represented hosts Albania.
“I scored within the final second. It was good,” he recalled. “First it was troublesome to attain, however then I warmed up after which I scored.”
That endurance and self-control have served Qorrolli effectively ever since he began enjoying basketball at age 10. Whereas his first trainings didn’t all the time yield the excessive scores he’s used to now, the younger athlete was not discouraged.
“I all the time went to the stadium. It’s very previous. I get my ball. I all the time practise to attain,” Qorrolli mentioned. “I missed more often than not, however after enjoying extra time, by practising, I scored.
“It was troublesome, but it surely was value it.”
Photograph by Claire Behan
Qorrolli has additionally tried different staff sports activities, similar to volleyball and soccer, and continues to play soccer with mates as a passion. Basketball, nevertheless, has all the time been his first alternative.
“I get pleasure from it very a lot. I all the time play basketball. I can’t change it with different sports activities,” he mentioned. “It makes me tall, higher, more healthy.”
Whereas he might be discovered on the basketball courtroom each night, by day Qorrolli is a diligent pupil. He attends faculty lessons and specialises in English language research.
“I all the time preferred it for the reason that first college,” he mentioned of selecting to review English. “And my trainer, she helped me to practise the language higher to not combine it up.”
Qorrolli dietary supplements his language studying by listening to overseas music and watching motion motion pictures. The Quick & Livid automobile racing saga is one in all his favourites—and serves as inspiration for his nimble strikes on the basketball courtroom.
#EBW2023 – West Balkans Unified 3×3 Basketball Match in Albania – Highlights
Step again into the energetic environment of the Particular Olympics West Balkans Unified 3×3 Basketball Match! Few weeks in the past, the groups have been arriving in Tirana, Albania, and warming up for one of many largest and most profitable occasions of EBW2023. Big congratulations to all of the programmes concerned and a heartfelt thanks to the companions that made this potential. This occasion was a part of the venture “Shoot for Inclusion” – carried out throughout the regional initiatives of the United Nations businesses “Youth for Inclusion, Equality and Belief”, which is financed by the United Nations Peace Fund. In Albania, this initiative is carried out by the native places of work of UNDP Albania and UNFPA Albania.The “Shoot for Inclusion” venture goals to have interaction younger folks with and with out mental disabilities in sports activities actions offering them with an surroundings freed from discrimination, hate speech & violence.
The Particular Olympics Kosovo athlete additionally flexes his endurance muscle tissues by doing English crossword puzzles.
“My expertise is that typically I play crosswords,” Qorrolli mentioned. “It provides me endurance, provides me the chilliness, [the ability to] discover out the weak level.”
The event in Tirana was Qorrolli’s first time at a global competitors. Inquisitive about overseas languages and cultures, his major spotlight from the occasion was assembly fellow younger gamers from the three different international locations represented: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia.
Qorrolli’s large dream is to journey even additional, to English-speaking international locations, the place he hopes to practise his language abilities whereas working as an assistant.
“I’ll go to all of them and go to all of them,” he promised.