Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed hails UAE's Paralympics team

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi pays tribute to country's sporting stars after their medal-winning exploits in Tokyo

The UAE Paralympic team arrives at Abu Dhabi International Airport on Monday, September 6, 2021 after competing at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. All photos Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Aref Al Awani, general secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, speaks about the Paralympic team's performance in Tokyo.

UAE para athlete gold medalist Abdulla Sultan Al Aryani speaks to Sayeed Abdul Ghaffar, secretary-general of the General Authority for Sports in the UAE.

Abdulla Sultan Al Aryani won the UAE' first gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics in the men's 50m rifle 3P SH1.

Abdulla Sultan Al Aryani took the title with a total score of 453.6.

Abdulla Sultan Al Aryani shows off his gold medal.

Abdulla Sultan Al Aryani alongside other members of the UAE Paralympics team.

The UAE Paralympic team are welcomed by officials at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has hailed the UAE's medal-winners of the Tokyo Paralympics.

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces said the entire Emirati squad had made the nation proud.

He praised the achievements of shooting star Abdulla Sultan Al Aryani - who won the UAE's first gold of the competition in the 50 metre Rifle 3P competition - and Mohamed Al Hammadi, who secured the country's first medal of the Games after earning bronze in the 100 metre T34 wheelchair at the Olympic Stadium.

Al Hammadi enjoyed double success after taking silver in the T34 wheelchair 800-metres event.

The 2020 Paralympics - which like the Olympics was delayed by a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic - drew to a spectacular close on Sunday after nearly two weeks of action.

Sheikh Mohamed praised Japan for hosting the Games successfully.

"Congratulations to Abdulla Sultan Al Aryani, Mohamed Al Hammadi and the entire UAE Paralympics team on their remarkable achievements in Tokyo," Sheikh Mohamed said on Twitter.

"You have made our country proud. I also commend Japan for its successful hosting of the Games."

The UAE's 12-member squad returned with a gold, silver and bronze. Mohammed Fadhel Al Hameli, chairman of the UAE Paralympic Committee, who accompanied the team as chef de mission, said this was a “good achievement” given the pandemic.

“We can take a lot of positives from Tokyo,” he said. “It has been an exceptional Paralympic Games and we understand the difficulties our athletes had to go through and they were necessitated by the prevailing situation around the world.

“From this experience, we will be better prepared if the Covid situation still prevail during the Asian Games, which is our next major event.

“Even otherwise, we have a good programme drawn up for our para athletes. We will continue to provide them all the support and draw up external camps to prepare for our next major event.”