Hug leads strong Dubai marathon wheelchair field

‘Silver Bullet’, who trains regularly in the city, will be making his event debut

Defending champion Rafa Botello of Spain will face a world-class field of racers including ninetime world champion and double Paralympic gold medallist Marcel Hug of Switzerland when the most talented line-up in the event’s history takes to the course for the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon on January 26.

The Spaniard took victory by just three seconds (1:31.19) from Irish rival Patrick Monahan last year in Dubai and both men return to clash again next week. But they know they also face a monumental battle with the likes of Hug, Japan’s Hiroyuki Yamamoto and ten-time Boston Marathon winner Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa also in the world-class line-up.

Add in 2016 Dubai winner John Boy Smith of Great Britain and former Boston Marathon champion Josh Cassidy of Canada, and it’s clear the wheelchair race will be the biggest in the event’s history.

“The wheelchair race continues to grow and we are very excited by the field we have assembled this year,” said event director Peter Connerton.

Although Hug is no stranger to Dubai, this will be his first appearance in the race.

The Swiss “Silver Bullet” — a nickname derived from his racing helmet — often trains in the UAE and admits he is looking forward to racing for the first time on the city’s streets.

“I come to Dubai every year for training and track competitions and I’ve heard the marathon is a good race with a fast course,” he said.