An Afghanistan refugee living in San Antonio is trying to get back to doing one of the things he loves the most -- playing wheelchair basketball.
Mohammad Bilal Mirbat Zai is a Paralympic champion and beloved teammate but has been off the court because he doesn’t have the proper chair.Mirbat Zai and his wife moved to San Antonio in late 2021 after bombings in Afghanistan. He had to abandon his customized wheelchair, which he used to compete in numerous international games.“I think San Antonio’s the best place to start a new life. I started my work as an interpreter. Then I was promoted to case manager.
One of the ways he fit into the community was through wheelchair basketball, but unfortunately, Mirbat Zai hasn’t played this season. “Every night, I was thinking how I can get back to basketball. The problem is I don’t have my own wheelchair to fit my body,” said Mirbat Zai.are helping get the word out about assistance for Mirbat Zai to get a new chair, which costs around $7,000.
“It’s like a custom-fit pair of tennis shoes for a pro athlete. For anyone, if the shoes fit very good, you get better performance. That’s what we’re trying to do with Bilal, is get the custom chair so he can be at the top of his game,” said Willie Jackson, Parasport Spurs head coach.“Two years ago, he played with us. We went to the playoffs. I think we ended up number five in the nation.
The Parasport Spurs will compete at nationals next week. Mirbat Zai will miss this tournament but hopes to return soon.“I have a 1-year-old daughter. I have my daughter, my wife, and my future is really bright and very good,” said Mirbat Zai.RJ Marquez is co-host of KSAT News Now and reports for Good Morning San Antonio. He's been at KSAT since 2010 and covered a variety of stories and events across the San Antonio area.
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