Today's Edition
Hangzhou (Aletihad)
The UAE women para athletes proved they can wield a strong arm when needed as Noura Al Ketbi and compatriot Thekra Al Kaabi clinched a shot put gold and bronze medal respectively at the Asian Para Games in China on Wednesday.
The ladies delivered on expected lines since three of the four-athlete field were Emiratis. Barring one off-key attempt – her third – Al Ketbi threw the metal ball strongly and consistently, just short of the six-metre mark. Her effort in the third, when she gave it her all, landed at 5.94 metres. She would be disappointed a bit, though, considering that the Asian record of 6.49m also belongs to her.
Teammate Al Kaabi picked up a second medal in as many days when she came in third to Al Ketbi with a throw of 4.11m. The bronze was assured in the absence of a challenge from the rookie Shamma Al Maazmi.
Al Kaabi and the silver medallist, Parastoo Habibi of Iran, renewed their rivalry from Tuesday in a different competition – the women’s club throw. The gold winner Habibi took second spot behind Al Ketbi with a throw of 5.49m, which was her personal best.
Aisha Al-Muhairi took fourth place in the mixed standing 10-metre air rifle competition in the “SH2” category, while Mona Hassan and Aisha Al-Shamsi were both eliminated from the qualifiers of the same competition.
With the athletics and shooting teams impressing, Theban Al Muhairi, Director of the Mission, hoped more medals are on the way.
Al Muhairi thanked all the clubs for people of determination for being strategic partners of the National Paralympic Committee that led to these feats.
He said: “We hope to achieve more achievements and medals during the remainder of the course, especially in a group of specialised sports upon which we rely on.”
In athletics, a total of five Emiratis are in competition for Thursday. In shooting, the trio of Abdullah Sultan Al Aryani, Obaid Al Dahmani and Saif Al Nuaimi will compete in the 50m rifle prone competition (SH1 category).
The weightlifters will make their first appearance, with Haifa Al Naqbi participating in the 67 kg competition, and Adel Shanbeh in the 88 kg competition.
