Shaikh Mohammed lauds Khalaf for UAE's first gold at Rio Paralympics

Dubai - 2004 Paralympics gold medallist overcame home Brazilian favourite Evanio da Solva

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has lauded 47-year-old Mohammed Khamis Khalaf for securing UAE's first gold at Rio paralympics.

In a tweet he said, "Proud of our lifting player Mohammed for winning the gold medal at the games at Rio de Janeiro."

Forty seven year old Mohammed Khamis Khalaf has kept his promise he gave just before boarding the flight to Brazil, a week ago.

The five-time Paralympian brushed aside the field to win gold in superb fashion in the men's 88kg category of the men's powerlifting competition at the Rio Paralympics on Tuesday.

Going into the final rounds after gathering steam slowly but steadily, the 2004 Paralympics gold medallist, literally blew away the rest of the field.

Brazilian home favourite Evanio da Solva totalled 210kg in his attempts to clinch silver while Mongolia's Adnoompiljee Enkhbayar who was relegated to the bronze berth after the countback and weight difference clauses were applied.

Khalaf told Khaleej Times a week ago that his is a dual role for the UAE. "I have experience which I can readily pass on to the next generation of the participants in Rio especially taking the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics into consideration.

"In 2012 in London I was disappointed as I was supposed to come home with a medal. Four years have gone by and I have trained harder and I have to at least promise this time that I will with God's help return to the UAE with a medal."