Latest news with #16thFazzaParaAthleticsGrandPrix
Gulf News
16-02-2025
- Sport
- Gulf News
UAE finish with 21 medals in Fazza Para Athletics Grand Prix 2025
UAE's Mohamad Othman reacts after his men's 800m T34 race. Supplied Dubai: Para discus thrower Abdulla Mesbahi claimed the eighth gold for hosts UAE as they finished the 16th Fazza Para Athletics Grand Prix — Dubai 2025 with 21 medals at the Dubai Club for People of Determination grounds. Mesbahi finished on top in the men's discus F51/52/54 final with a throw of 24,75 metres as the hosts finished in fourth place in the medal standings. Overall, India, Saudi Arabia and Kenya claimed the top three positions in the table with nine gold medals each. Other UAE medallist on the final day was the promising Mohamad Othman who took his third medal, a bronze in men's 800m wheelchair T34 race clocking 1:42.33 seconds. Othman already has a gold from the event when he claimed the men's 100m T34 races. Tunisian five-time Paralympic champion Walid Ktila finally won his first medal at the competition, a gold finishing the race in two seconds ahead of his UAE friend, in the men's 800m T34 finals. Earlier, the host UAE had several winners including Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games bronze medallist Thekra Alkaabi (women's club throw F32), Yahya Alblooshi (men's 100m T45/46), Siham Alrasheedy (women's discus F52- 57), Sara Aljneibi, the Rio 2026 Paralympic bronze medallist (women's shot put F32/33), Abdalla Almarzooqi (men's 100m T71/72) among others. Event director Majid Al Usaimi thanked the participants for the amazing performances. 'The Fazza Championships have grown over the years and several Paralympic champions have emerged from this event. We are happy to provide a great platform to these amazing athletes many of whom started their Paralympic journey here. Thank you for making this event become among one of the best championships in the Para sport world. We look forward to your support and participation in the years to come.' Among the top names, Swiss legend Marcel Hug signed off the Dubai 2025 Grand Prix with his third gold medal, this time winning the men's 5000m wheelchair T54 race in 10:02.89 seconds. Earlier, Hug claimed the top places in men's 800m and 1500m wheelchair T54 races. China's multiple-time Paralympic and world champion Lijuan Zou clinched her second gold medal in the competition winning the women's shot put F34 with an effort of 8.09 metres. The season-opening Grand Prix was competed by around 400 para-athletes from 52 nations between February 10 to 13. The event was also the season opener in the Grand Prix calendar of the World Para Athletics, the world body for the sport. Sign up for the Daily Briefing Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox
Gulf News
14-02-2025
- Sport
- Gulf News
Emotional moment for proud mother Siham Alrasheedy after gold medal triumph
Dubai: It was an emotional moment for UAE's Siham Alrasheedy as she clinched the women's discus F52-57 gold medal at the ongoing 16th Fazza Para Athletics Grand Prix — Dubai 2025. Alrasheedy hurled the discus to a distance of 22.96 metres to take the gold at her home ground. The 43-year-old trainee at the Dubai Club has been a regular to the Fazza Para Athletics Championships since its inception and has won several medals at the event in the past. But the 2025 edition was special. She was cheered by her family from the recently renovated Dubai Club for People of Determination stadium stands as she competed. 'It was a proud and emotional moment for me as my mother and my son (Abdullah) were cheering for me from the stands,' said a teary-eyed Alrasheedy, who is also a Para Badminton player in Wheelchair WH2 category and aims to improve her rankings this year. 'They inspired me a lot to win the gold today. I am so happy to start the season with a success.' Alrasheedy was joined by two more Emirati players on the top of the podium including Sara Aljneibi, the Rio 2026 Paralympic bronze medallist and Abdalla Almarzooqi as UAE's god medals reached seven. Aljneibi claimed the fifth gold medal for the host nation with an effort of 5.22 metres in women's shot put F32/33 final. Emirati Thekra Al Kaabi, who already has a gold at the event, finished fourth in the same event. Meanwhile, Almarzooqi claimed the yellow metal in men's 100m T71/72 final, finishing the race in 24.65 seconds. Promising Mohamad Othman continued to make the most of his good form taking the bronze in men's 400m wheelchair T34 final. He touched the finishing line in 51.23 seconds. Among the top names: Swiss legend Marcel Hug continued to spell his magic on the Dubai Club for People of Determination blue Mondo tracks. He finished the men's 800m wheelchair T53/54 timeraces in 1:34.21 to take his third gold medal. Hug's compatriot Patricia Eachus won her second medal at the Fazza championships clinching the top place in women's 800m wheelchair T54 final in 1:50.78 seconds. Greece's two-time Paralympic champion Athanasios Ghavelas kicked off the 2025 season with a gold in men's 100m T11 final. He was happy to take the gold but hoped to improve his timing in the coming time — he managed a timing of 11.43s after a fall in the start of the race. 'The World Championship in New Delhi is the target for me this year.' At the medal standings, UAE are in third place with 18 medals including seven gold, behind India and Saudi Arabia, who have won eight gold each. Sign up for the Daily Briefing Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox
