Emirati Paralympic athletes eye glory

sharjah — Emirati Paralympic athletes are preparing for the 2019 International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports (IWAS) World Games which will be held in Sharjah, a press release said.

As many as 479 athletes from 49 countries will all be competing for podium positions at the Games.

The seven-day event (Feb 1016) will be a major attraction for the sports lovers in Sharjah.

The 111-member UAE delegation that includes 76 athletes is all set to give their best for the country. These athletes will represent the nation in all seven categories in the championship – archery, swimming, shooting, athletics, badminton, table tennis and wheelchair fencing.

Paralympic champion Mohamed Al Qayed, who won silver and bronze medals at the 2012 London Paralympic Games and a gold medal at the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016, stated that he is in top form.

Qayed has been training at a camp in Thailand, and aspires to break his ‘four gold’ personal record at Sharjah’s debut edition of IWAS World Games.

UAE shooter Abdullah Al Aryani, a London 2012 Paralympic Games’ gold medalist and silver medal winner at 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, said the local athletes will raise the UAE flag in international sporting venues.

Shot put F32 silver medalist, Noura Al Ketbi, the first Arab female medal winner in Paralympic games, said she has been preparing for this event in Sharjah and considers it an important stepping stone for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.