UAE Paralympians all set for Rio challenge
dubai — The UAE will send an 18-member squad to the Rio Paralympics taking place from September 7-18, it was officially announced during a presentation at the Dubai Club for the Disabled, Monday night.
The UAE first competed at the Paralympics in Barcelona in 1992, and Rio 2016 will be their seventh appearance.
At the London chapter four years ago, the UAE finished 46th out of 75 nations with three medals — one gold, one silver and a bronze. Rifle (prone) ace Abdulla Sultan Alaryani found the target for a top of the podium finish in the men’s mixed R650m SH-1 category while wheelchair sprint ace Mohammed Hammadi won silver in the men’s 200m T34, and a bronze in the men’s 100m T34 events, of the track and field programme in London.
China, Russia and Britain finished among the top three in the final medal count as Chinese bulldozed their way past the rest of the field with a haul of 231 medals including 95 gold medals. Russia and Britain ended in second and third positions with 36 and 34 golds each and both nations crossed the 100 medal mark.
The announcement of the contingent was attended by some of the participants bound for Rio, Mohammed Fadel Al Hameli, chairman of the UAE Disabled Sports Federation and senior officials including sponsor representatives.
Again the UAE can put trust again on the London medal winners who have gone through long periods of training in Europe and have taken part in the major events including the Asia Pacific para games in Dubai earlier this year.
Also eyeing podium finishes will be the strong challenges in the men’s and women’s powerlifting events and in the women’s discus in the athletics schedule.
“Getting to where I am now at the moment is mainly due to the unending support given by the government, the UAE Paralympic Committee and the training provided by my coach Toumi Fatma Zouhour who has been able to cut down on the minus points of my style and action,” veteran discus thrower Siham Masoud told Khaleej Times.
“The Asia-Pacific event in Dubai which was a great opportunity for some of us to make the qualifying grades, allowed me to be totally relaxed and focused. Ever since, I have been to the Czech Republic and elsewhere for high performance training in the women’s F56/57 category,” Siham, a Dubai government employee and who is also is a top level javelin and shot put exponent, said.
For men’s veteran powerlifter Mohammed Khamis, this will be his seventh Paralympics when he will take part in the men’s 88kg category. “What I enjoy best is not only trying to get a medal in the events here and abroad but also helping younger para athletes to gain confidence. This UAE contingent, small in number maybe, has a few hands who are into a big event for the first time. The younger athletes and powerlifters will keep the country’s flag flying high in the years to come,” said Khamis.
One of the younger generation para athletes bound for Rio is Ahmed Al Hosseini who is striving hard to make an impression in the men’s javelin.
“Inexperience is part of the growing phase of any athlete. A beginning has to be made somewhere and this opening of being able to take part for the first time in a Paralympics comes
Getting to where I am now at the moment is mainly due to the unending support
Siham Masoud, discus
thrower rarely. After qualifying, all of us have been going through tough but highly educative phases of our sports careers,” said Hosseini.
Another debutant in Rio will be women’s 86kg category powerlifter Haifa Al Naqbi whose recent form has shown indications of a possibility of a top five finish, if not a medal.
“I have been able to improve at a fast rate the last month and after returning to the UAE from the camps, I feel strong and am able to handle pressure situations better,” said Haifa.
Abdulla Al Kamali, manager of the shooting team where Sultan Alaryani will be the best medal prospect, told Khaleej Times: “The Al Ain Club marksmen representing the UAE will be a strong medal prospects again. Alaryani is the best example of a sportsman who is prepared to fight hard. The tough person he is, Alaryani an ex-police official, came into rife prone shooting after his accident. Ever since he has been an inspiration to our youngsters here.”
moni@khaleejtimes.com