Qataris continue to sparkle at Para Athletics Ch&ionships

(MENAFN- The Peninsula)

Doha: Qatari athlete Abdelrahman Abdelqader continued his medal-winning streak on the third day of the GCC Para-Athletics Championships with a silver in the men’s javelin F33/34 event with Sara Masoud winning Qatar’s fifth gold medal with triumph in the shot put F33/34 event.

Abdelqader won his third medal of the GCC Para-Athletics Championships after another silver medal on 13th September in the discus event as well as a gold medal and a new world record in the shot put event on 12th September.

“I could not be happier with my performance during the GCC Para-Athletics Championships. Since this is my last competition before the Doha 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships in October I feel confident that I will be able to use my experience in the GCC Championships as a stepping stone to greater achievements in the World Championships” he said.

Abdelqader’s performance in the GCC Para-Athletics Championships indicates that he is in good form heading into the Doha 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships one of the last major qualifying competitions to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

“My ultimate dream is to be a Paralympic Champion and win a medal for my country in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. This will be my greatest achievement and I hope I will be able to fulfill it and make my family friends and country proud.”

Masoud who competed in the discus throw javelin and shot put events during the GCC Championships is no stranger to international competitions. The 29-year-old para-athlete won gold medals during the 2014 Asian Para Games in the discus and shot put events.

Meanwhile Saudi Arabia entered the third day of competition with strong performances from Paralympian and world-record holder Hani Al Nahkli who took gold in the men’s javelin F33/34 event Abdulrahman al-Ghamdi winning gold in the 100m event while his compatriot Ali al-Bishi took home the gold in the javelin F40/42/44 event.

The UAE’s Paralympic hero Mohammed Al Hammadi secured another gold medal in the Championships with a blistering time of 28.13 seconds in the men’s 200m T33/34 event coming out ahead of world-record holder Kuwaiti Ahmad Al Mutairi. Al-Hammadi’s compatriot Rashed al-Dhaheri also took the gold in an incredibly close 800m T53/54 final leaving Kuwait with the silver medal thanks to Faisal Al Rajehi.

Speaking after his victory Al Hammadi said:

“I consider Doha my lucky charm after winning three gold medals in the GCC Championships! This is a great morale booster for me ahead of the Doha 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships in October in which I will compete in the 100m 200m 400m and 800m. After my performance here I am extremely optimistic and I hope to achieve much in Doha.”

The GCC Para-Athletics Championships will enter their final day on 15th September after an exhilarating 3-day competition in which world records were broken in Qatar Sports Club. They are serving as a test event for the Doha 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships which will also be held in the Qatar Sport Club and will begin on the 21st to the 31st October 2015. The Local Organising Committee gained valuable experience during the GCC Championships in which they tested the operational readiness and procedures of the team.

Tickets for the Doha 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships are on sale now at https://doha2015.q-tickets.com for the ten-day competition which will be held from October 21 to 31 at Qatar Sports Club.

THE PENINSULA