Latest news with #FazzaParaAthleticsGrandPrix
Khaleej Times
13-02-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Three more gold medals as hosts UAE continue dream run
It was an emotional moment for the UAE's Siham Alrasheedy as she clinched the women's discus F52-57 gold medal at the ongoing 16 th 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, a regular to the Fazza Para Athletics Championships since its inception, has won several medals at the event in the past. But the 2025 edition was special. She was cheered on 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 is also a Para Badminton player in Wheelchair WH2 category and aims to improve her rankings this year. 'They were shouting for me – it 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 gold 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 100 m 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 800 m 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, the UAE are in third place with 18 medals including seven gold behind India and Saudi Arabia who won eight gold each.
Gulf Today
10-02-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
UAE's Rawdha eyes first international medal at Fazza Para Athletics GP
Promising Emirati para-athlete Rawdha Ghaneem is keenly waiting to make her second appearance at the Fazza Para Athletics Grand Prix, which is marking its 16th year over the next few days. Ghaneem, a trainee at the Dubai Club for People of Determination, wants to put up a good show at the Dubai 2025- Grand Prix that will be held at her home ground next week. 'I want to become one of the best in Asia,' said the Dubai resident, who will compete in women's shot put F33. 'I'm so excited to compete at the Fazza Para Athletics for the second time. Hope I can get my personal best at the competition this time.' Ghaneem, who has been using a wheelchair since a child, highlighted her desire to win medals at competitions to change the mentally of people who believe women don't do sports like shot put. 'When I started doing shot put in 2020, there were many outside my family who questioned my sport — saying 'this sport is not meant for women but only played by men'. 'I want to win a medal in international competition to end all their doubts and change the perception,' said Ghaneem, whose first competition was at Khorfakkan Club. Having competed in swimming in her young age, the 21-year-old has strong arms which she believes is her strength in the sport. 'I did a lot of swimming as a teenager. And that was the reason my coach suggested me to do shot put. I enjoy playing the sport (Para athletics) now.' 'Hope I can make my family proud of me one day.' She admires American swimming legend Michael Phelps in that regard. 'I saw him competing on TV when I was young and he really inspires me,' said the promising player who aims to take up political science as main subject in university. At the 16th Fazza Para Athletics Grand Prix – Dubai 2025, Ghaneem will be part of the hosts UAE's 64-member team aiming to make a mark. She will be competing alongside senior team-mate Sara Aljneibi, Rio 2016 bronze medallist in the women's shot put F33 event. With a participation of around 400 para athletes from 52 countries, the Dubai 2025 Grand Prix is set to get underway from February 10 to 13, 2025 at the recently renovated Dubai Club for People of Determination grounds.
Khaleej Times
10-02-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
This female Emirati para-athlete hopes to change people's mindset on women's sports
Promising Emirati para-athlete Rawdha Ghanem is keenly waiting to make her second appearance at the Fazza Para Athletics Grand Prix, which is marking its 16th year over the next few days. Ghanem, a trainee at the Dubai Club for People of Determination, wants to put up a good show at the Dubai 2025- Grand Prix that will be held at her home ground. 'I want to become one of the best in Asia,' said the Dubai resident who will compete in women's shot put F33. 'I'm so excited to compete at the Fazza Para Athletics for the second time. Hope I can get my personal best at the competition this time.' Ghanem, who is using wheelchair since a child, hopes her medals will change the mentally of people who believes women don't do sports like shot put. 'When I started doing spot put in 2020, there were many outside my family who questioned my sport — saying 'this sport is not meant for women but only played by men'. 'I want to win medals in international competition to end all their doubts and change the perception,' said Ghanem, whose first competition was at Khorfakkan Club. Having competed in swimming in her young age, the 21-year-old has strong arms which she believes is her strength in the sport. 'I did a lot of swimming as a teenager. And that was the reason my coach suggested me to do shot put. I enjoy playing the sport (Para athletics) now.' 'Hope I can make my family proud of me one day.' She admires American swimming legend Michael Phelps. 'I saw him competing on TV when I was young and he really inspires me,' said the promising player who aims to take up political science as main subject in university. At the 16th Fazza Para Athletics Grand Prix – Dubai 2025, Ghanem will be part of the hosts UAE's 64-member team aiming to make a mark. She will be competing alongside senior teammate Sara Aljneibi, the Rio 2016 bronze medallist in the women's shot put F33 event. With a participation of around 400 para athletes from 52 countries, the four-day Dubai 2025 Grand Prix got under way on Monday, February 10, at the recently-renovated Dubai Club for People of Determination grounds.
