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Cucumber cool southpaw: Sara Al Senaani

Dubai - Sara, a university student, took her share of the 'bite' of the bronze medal, and posed with a wide grin for the photographers.

Sara Al Senaani after her bronze medal achievement in the women's T33 shot put event, moved close to the podium for the medals ceremony on Friday night at the Rio Paralympics, and naturally like most sportspersons in her position, was overcome with emotion.
The strong personality in her however kept the tears away from her face and she waited for her turn of the presentation and for the national for the Algerian thrower Asmahan Boudjadar (gold medallist) to get over. Seconds later, Sara, a university student, took her share of the 'bite' of the bronze medal, and posed with a wide grin for the photographers.
"The medal is a plus point no doubt. Being the first ever Emirati woman to get a Paralympics medal is the milestone thanks to the support I get from my close ones, the educational institutions I go to and the coaches who have guided me all along. To all of them and the leaders of my country, I dedicate this medal," the 23-year-old said.
Slightly unconventional in her throwing action, especially during the final phases of her left handed throws, Sara goes through the movements very simply and quickly without much fuss or delay before the actual throw.
The wheelchair stricken new star on the horizon with international experience including the London Paralympics four years ago as a budding teenager, trains at the Abu Dhabi Sports Club for Special Needs, along with her childhood buddy 20-year-old Zenab Al Breiki - a F32 women's club thrower.
They have been friends right from school days and the friendship has to led to both throwers learning the finer points of their sport each day, not letting their wheelchair situations in their lives to bother them. Zenab too is a member of the UAE contingent to the Rio Paralympics.
moni@khaleejtimes.com