Shot put silver for para athlete

Competing for the Oman National team, Mohammed Al Mashaykhi, won the silver in the men’s F32 field for shot put event, after throwing it to a distance of 10.49 metres

MUSCAT: An Omani has won silver in the shot put final of the World Para Athletics Championships, making it a first for the Sultanate.

Mohammed Al Mashaykhi, competing for the Oman National team, won the silver in the Men’s F32 field for shot put event, after throwing it to a distance of 10.49 metres.

This is the first Omani achievement at the World Para Athletics Championships, held this year at the Olympic Village in London.

“I had great ambition to win for the Sultanate. Training was in- tensive in order for us to achieve a good position, and win,” said Al Mashaykhi.

Dr. Mansour bin Sultan Al Touqi, chairman of the Oman Paralympic Committee, expressed pride at Oman’s first win at the World Para Athletics Championships. “Arriving at the coronation podiums and achieving second place with a new Omani and Asian record is a historic achievement.”

According to Al Touqi, winner Al Mashaykhi will be a focus point for the next development plan, and will be provided an environment conducive to success in preparation for the 2018 Asian Games.

“The Sultanate needs these heroes to achieve more international wins,” he added.

Tunisian coach Sonia Mustapha also expressed pride in Al Mashayakhi’s silver medal ranking in the world championship.

“Mohammed Al Mashaykhi has proven to be a talented player, and has a keen desire to develop his ability to achieve wins in this great international forum. Al Mashaykhi put in great effort during the training, and all of these factors were the real keys behind this achievement,” Mustapha said.