UAE’s Paralympics hope Mohammed Al Hammadi sees silver lining is inspiring others

Emirati athlete Mohammed Al Hammadi his hoping his successes inspire others to take up sport and activities. Courtesy Jaber Abdeen

With a personal haul of three silver medals and one bronze, the recently concluded IPC Athletics World Championships at Doha was a huge success for the UAE’s Mohammed Al Hammadi.

But he is still hungry for more.

The wheelchair sprint champion’s performances are peaking ahead of next year’s Rio Olympics.

“The level of events was very high as its almost less than one year to Rio 2016 Paralympic Games,” he said. “For me it was one of the very important aims in my career. I tested my readiness and the efficiency of my preparation to Rio 2016. Most of the athletes competing in my class [T34] will be present in the next Paralympic Games.”

Al Hammadi’s success at Doha came on the back of four medals – gold in the 100 metres, silver in 400m and 800m and bronze in 200m – at the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports (IWAS) World Games 2015 in Russia in September and October.

“In Sochi it was different. The competition was a very good preparation for Doha,” said Al Hammadi, a member of Al Thiqa Club at Sharjah. “It was a good level, but less than that at Doha.”

Wheelchair and disabled sports in the UAE have gained attention over the past few years, in large thanks to the efforts of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, to bring them into the mainstream.

“Yes, it’s better than before, but still less than expected,” said Al Hammadi, who lost both legs to polio as a child.

“We know that there are disabled people who aren’t involved in clubs and their activities, especially those who were injured and become disabled after car accidents.

“I would like to call and invite them to participate in sports and clubs activities, and become productive people in the society. Life doesn’t end for them after what they suffered from.”

Al Hammadi, 30, said that the stigma of disability needs to be banished.

“Certainly the support is requested to do more for the disabled people from different parts of the society,” he said. “There should be an awareness in society that disability is not a sickness, and disabled people can accomplish a lot for the development of UAE in different fields.

“The UAE Rulers do a lot of things to make disabled people’s life much easier. It’s my hope that my different successes will contribute to getting disabled people out of their homes and inspiring them to participate in sports activities and do better than me.

“I hope that I can contribute in the future for their success in life and sports.”

Al Hammadi rates his performances at the 2012 Paralympics in London as the biggest achievement of his career, when he returned home with a silver in the men’s 200m race and bronze in the 100m sprint.

“It was the first time in my life I competed in a huge stadium and was watched by about 80,000 spectators,” he said. “It was an exciting experience in my career. ” Al Hammadi is hoping for more medals in Rio.

“I have planned with my coach Obaid Alzaabi to get ready for the Games,” he said.

“We will compete only in two events selected by the International Paralympic committee, which are 100m and 800m.

“For me it’s a simple question: I will compete in only two events which means only two chances of medals.

“For the UAE team I cannot predict what the chances for athletes in different sports are but my hope is that we will win more medals than at London 2012.”

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