Volleyball Foundation
Amid a nation’s path to renewal, Farah’s passion and determination on the sand embody Lebanon’s rising strength in women’s beach volleyball
Lebanon’s women’s beach volleyball teams made a historic display of their talents to secure gold and bronze at the West Asian Volleyball Association (WAVA) U20 Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship in Doha, Qatar.
Among the Lebanese standouts was Angelina Farah, whose performance with her partner Angy Lakkis contributed to the nation’s success, symbolising their growing strength in women’s beach volleyball.
In an exclusive interview with Egypt’s two-time Olympian and FIVB Athletes’ Commission member Doaa Elghobashy, Farah reflected her first foray into the U20 Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship, where they marked a major step for Lebanon’s women’s beach volleyball programme.
“For me, it was a very important experience, especially since it was my first U20 tournament,” Farah shared. “The organisation was excellent, and playing against different teams allowed us to meet players from other countries. The matches were enjoyable.”
Farah described the lively tournament atmosphere, which featured cheering crowds and a DJ.
“There were people cheering for various teams, including ours and others. The crowd, the DJ, and the energy made it an amazing and exciting atmosphere,” she explained.
When asked if such an environment made her nervous, she confidently replied, “On the contrary, it motivated me a lot. It’s great to have people cheering for us as a team. We support each other, which helps.”
Representing Lebanon at this level was a deeply meaningful experience for a young female athlete like her.
“It means so much to me to represent Lebanon,” she said. “Especially since we are coming out of a difficult period after the war, it’s significant for us to play and reach this level. Hopefully, Lebanon can become No.1, and we can achieve even more together.”
Farah reflected on the reason that kept her going in the sport.
“Having someone always encouraging me from behind, along with the fun and supportive atmosphere of volleyball.”
She also expressed her gratitude to her coach for inspiring her to take up the game.
“My coach. He also plays on a team, and he was the one who encouraged and inspired me to start playing,” she explained.
“There’s always someone who always believed in me and encouraged me to reach this high level. They’ve been a constant source of support and inspiration. They love me so much, and I want to thank them for always supporting and believing in me.”
Farah embodies the power of belief, exuding hope that her achievements can inspire the next generation to chase their dreams despite challenges, drawing from her own experiences to motivate others.
“For anyone playing, never stop, never give up. Keep pushing forward. If they have a goal, they can definitely reach it,” she said.
With Lebanon’s medal-winning performances at the U20 Championship, Farah and her compatriots have laid a strong foundation for the future of women’s beach volleyball in the region, inspiring countless young female athletes to dream big.
