Three UAE Paralympic hopefuls to look out for in Rio 2016

Hiba Khan - Writer 12:31 17/03/2016
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  • The IPC Athletics Asia Oceania Championships heralded a new and glorious dawn for three Emirati athletes, who successfully qualified for the Rio Paralympics 2016.

    The line-up includes wheelchair racing champions Mohammed Al Hamadi from Sharjah and Salim Al Shehhi from Ajman, along with Discus ace Siham Al Rashidi from Dubai.

    MOHAMMED AL HAMADI

    Discipline:  Wheelchair racing – T54 category

    Asia Oceania Championships Result: 4 Gold Medals (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m)

    Mohammed Al Hamadi IPC Athletics Asia Oceania

    Mohammed Al Hamadi racing towards another gold medal for the men’s 400m wheelchair racing.

    Wheelchair racing star, Mohammed Al Hamadi had already qualified for Rio after a Qatar competition last year, but consecutive victories at IPC Athletics Asia Oceania Championships held at Dubai Police Club cemented his status as one of the region’s pre-eminent wheelchair athletes. Al Hamadi won four gold medals for the men’s 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m.

    “I am very happy with the outcome and I trained night and day for this. I had to face many challenges while training, but I managed to come out on top so I am happy and I will work even harder for Rio,” Al Hamadi told Sport360 through an interpreter.

    Al Hamadi suffered from Cerebral Palsy when he was young, which rendered him paralysed from waist down, but through rigorous training he was able to develop the core strength that has made him one of the strongest contenders to represent UAE at the Rio Paralympics.

    “We are very happy with his performance, Mohammed is participating in the next competition in Sharjah for the Fazza International Tournament, and will take part in other international events to gain more experience,” said Iman Al Muhairi, general secretary of UAE PAralympic Federation.

    SALIM AL SHEHHI 

    Discipline: Wheelchair racing – T34 category
    Asia Oceania Championships Result:
    2 Gold Medals (100m,  200m), 1 Silver Medal (400m)

    Salem Al Shehhi IPC Athletics Asia Oceania Championships ثاني جمعة يتوج سالم الشيحي بالزهب

    Salem Al Shehhi receives his second gold medal.

    Seventeen-year-old Salim Al Shehhi was a first-time entrant in an international wheelchair racing tournament but incredibly managed to win two gold medals in the men’s 100m and 200m, and also bagged a silver medal in the men’s 400m race.

    Salem Al Shehhi was the youngest competitor at the championship – he has to juggle training with his school studies – but remarkably managed to qualify for Rio at the first attempt.

    “I had this disability since birth and it’s really difficult for me to train,” Salem told Sport360. Because I have school, but I go to the Club (Al Thiqah Club for Handicapped in Sharjah) every day, following the advice of my friend (Al Hussani), who took me around the club and introduced me to the sport and I fell in love with it.

    SIHAM AL RASHIDI

    Discipline: Discus 
    Asia Oceania Championships:
    1 Silver Medal

    سهام الرشيدي Siham Al Rashidi IPC Athletics Asia Oceania Championship

    Siham Al Rashidi puts all her strength into the winning shot that got her a spot at the Rio 2016.

    Discus thrower Al Rashidi suffered from a Polio attack at the age of six months and despite having surgery, she was still confined to a wheelchair.

    After spending hours training at the Dubai Club for Disabled, Al Rashidi – who started off practicing javelin – perfected her discus technique and at the IPC Athletics Asia Oceania Championships secured her spot at Rio.

    “I trained twice a day every day for the championship because I switched my expertise from Javelin throw to discus,” the 33-year-old told Sport360, communicating through an interpreter. “I am happy that all that hard work paid off and I am incredibly happy that I will get to represent UAE on such a huge platform.”

    Her coach Fatima Toumi expressed  great delight in Siham’s performance and commended her dedication to the sport, despite also having an eight-year-old son to take care of.

    “Siham has proved herself through this tournament and even though she has a son, she still remained focus on giving her best,” said Fatima. “I don’t understand why Siham is considered disabled athlete, she is as mentally and physically strong as any normal person.”

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