Dubai Basketball will be looking to win their third straight game when they take on the Serbian team at Coca-Cola Arena on Saturday
sports3 days ago
The curtains fell on the 15th Fazza International Para Athletics Grand Prix – Dubai 2024 with the UAE winning a gold medal on the final day while legendary wheelchair racer Marcel Hug saved the best for last – setting a new world record in men’s 5000m T54.
Overall, the hosts claimed nine medals, highlighted by the gold by Emirati Paralympic star Mohamed Hammadi in his pet event men’s 800m T34 wheelchair race, while Noura Alketbi, Maryam Alzeyoudi, and Maryam Alzeyoudi claimed silver medals at the Dubai Club for People of Determination grounds.
On the final day, apart from Hammadi’s heroic performance, Dubai Club trainee Omair Younas attained a personal best throw of 24.28 m for the bronze in men’s javelin wheelchair final F55.
“It was a great event. I am very happy to achieve my personal best today. It's a good stepping-stone for bigger events. I want to play more international events and hopefully, this year I will be playing more events and improve further,” said Omair who was part of the triumphant UAE's men's wheelchair basketball team at the West Asia Para Games in Sharjah.
However, the highlight of the final day was the record-breaking shows from legendary long-distance racer Marcel Hug in men’s 5000 m wheelchair final T54 who improved his own world record*, racing in 9:13,81 mins.
“I feel very happy. It’s nice to be back here in Dubai,” said the six-time Paralympic and 12-time world champion who already has three more gold in Dubai – the 400m, 800m and 1500m T54 races..
“It’s early in the season but it’s an important competition for me to see where I am standing, where I need to improve; it’s important for preparation in the build-up to the Paris 2024 Paralympics. So far, I am very satisfied with the competitions and my timings here in the UAE,”
“A lot of training, discipline and experience,” added the legend when asked about his winning secret.
Another wheelchair racing great David Weir of Great Britain settled for the second place with a timing of 9:13.83min, just 0.2 seconds behind Hug.
Belgium sprinter Roger Habsch had a special outing in Dubai setting his second world record* in the Grand Prix en route winning the men’s 200 m final T51 in 35.74s on Thursday.
Meanwhile, another Swiss star Catherine Debrunner signed off in style much like she had started their campaign winning the women’s 5000 m wheelchair final T54 in 9:13,81min.
Among other Arab nations, Para athletes from Syria, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Algeria won medals including the gold medal from Abdellatif Baka in men’s 1500m men final T13/20.
As many as 573 Para athletes from 71 nations are competing at the 15th edition
of the Grand Prix in a quest to qualify for Kobe 2024 World Para Athletics Championships and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
ALSO READ
Dubai Basketball will be looking to win their third straight game when they take on the Serbian team at Coca-Cola Arena on Saturday
sports3 days ago
APGC Chairman Amin highlights the UAE’s impressive growth in golf and anticipates the 2025 Championship will build on the nation's legacy of hosting prestigious tournaments
sports3 days ago
The teenage duo will join a field of 120 golfers from 43 APGC member nations in the tournament that concludes on Sunday
sports4 days ago
“It has been a privilege to witness and contribute to the growth of both Dubai and the golf industry here,” said McMurdo as he reflected on his time at Dubai's famous Resort Golf Course
sports4 days ago
The second season will see six teams vying for the honours in London after the inaugural season was won by Triveni Continental Kings in Dubai last year
sports4 days ago
The champion of this week's tournament will earn invites to both The Masters and The Open
sports4 days ago
His strategy involves investing in modern amenities, expanding instructional programs, and highlighting the course's unique features in Dubai's competitive golf landscape
sports5 days ago
Rory McIlroy will be joined by several stars including UAE-based Tommy Fleetwood at the Old Course at St Andrews, Scotland
sports5 days ago