Noura Al Ketbi, the Emirati silver medallist at 2016 Rio Paralympics, clinched the UAE’s first gold at the Dubai 2022 World Para Athletics Grand Prix - 13th Fazza International Para Athletics Championships - on Wednesday.
Al Ketbi overcame Algeria’s Mounia Gasmi in the women’s wheelchair F34 shot put with a throw of 6.07 metres to take first place.
Al Ketbi’s teammate Thekra Al Kaabi grabbed bronze as the host nation took their medal tally to eight at the Dubai Club for People of Determination on day two of the championships.
“I’m very happy I was able to win the first gold in the championships for the UAE,” Al Ketbi said.
“It obviously is a reward for the hard work and of course the fabulous support from our federation. Being a home championships, we have entered a big squad of 50 athletes, and hopefully add a few more medals in the coming days.”
UAE's Sara Al Jneibi, bronze medallist at 2016 Rio, took silver in the women’s wheelchair F33/34 shot put behind Algeria’s Asmahane Boudjadar (6.42m) while another Emirati Ansaf Al Nuaimi bagged bronze.
Maryam Al Zeyoudi added another medal for the hosts in the women’s discus F40/41/44. She clinched silver behind Tunisian Raoua Tlili (33.77m).
There was more success for the emirates with Abdulla Mesbahi clinched his second medal of the championships in the men’s wheelchair F54/55 discus behind Syrian Wasim Alrezk (31.26 m).
Naas Ahmed established a new world record (39.08m) en route to winning gold in the men’s javelin F40.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Hannah Cockroft won her second gold by taking the women’s T34/53 wheelchair 100m in 17.36 seconds and Marcel Hug of Switzerland struck gold in the men’s T54 wheelchair 1,500m race.
Thailand’s Paralympic star Pongsakorn Paeyo also claimed his second gold by taking the men’s 100m wheelchair T53 final in 14.43 seconds.
