BAGHDAD, IRAQ – September 6, 2026
Iraqi Paralympic champion and Toyota Iraq Brand Ambassador, Najla Imad, has returned to Baghdad crowned with the gold medal after securing first place in the Women’s Singles (WS6 category) at the ITTF World Para Future Lahti 2026, hosted by the city of Lahti in Finland.
Najla’s coronation on August 29, 2026, marks her first gold medal of the current year and represents a new milestone in her international sporting journey. This accomplishment comes on the heels of a challenging hiatus from competitive play, after which she resumed training under an intensive preparation program that empowered her to make a formidable return to international competition.
This achievement embodies the fruits of hard work, discipline, and a resolute drive to reclaim her competitive edge, adding a new gold medal to her honorable sporting record as she continues to represent Iraq with distinction and capability on global stages.
Upon her arrival in Baghdad, Najla was honored with a reception at Baghdad International Airport joined by Toyota Iraq, celebrating her golden homecoming and recognizing her inspiring journey that personifies willpower, perseverance, and the power to overcome adversity.
In her statement following the victory, Najla emphasized the special place this medal holds in her career, noting that it came after one of the most grueling phases of her life, transforming endured exhaustion, patience, and perseverance into a new golden triumph.
In this context, Najla stated:
"Praise be to God, this is my first gold medal of the current year, earned at the Finland International Championship. Within it, this medal carries the memory of every arduous moment I endured, and every time I felt I might not be able to carry on, yet I persevered on the path. My sincere gratitude goes to Toyota Iraq and to Mr. Sardar for their continuous support throughout these championships."
She also extended her heartfelt appreciation to the head of the delegation, Mr. Nassim, and to her coach, Captain Haider Salim, in recognition of their dedication, guidance, and unwavering support throughout her sporting journey. She concluded:
"One cannot attain glory without paying their share of pain."
Toyota Iraq’s support for the champion Najla Imad as Brand Ambassador stems from the company's commitment to the principle of "Mobility for All," reinforcing its belief in empowering individuals of determination to unlock their full potential and achieve their highest ambitions.
Her backing also embodies the core values of Toyota’s global "Start Your Impossible" initiative, which is anchored in the vision of mobility as a pathway to empower individuals to push beyond their boundaries and keep moving forward. These values are vividly reflected throughout Najla’s path as she persisted in training and work, returning to international competition to record yet another victory in the name of Iraq.
Toyota Iraq continues its support for champion Najla Imad across her sporting career and international engagements within an enduring partnership grounded in the belief in her ability to achieve further milestones, and in the pivotal role of sports in creating inspiration, highlighting human potential, and reinforcing Iraq’s presence on the global stage.
