Abu Dhabi: Khalid Al Hajeri provided UAE with a double gold on the final day of the Special Olympics IX Mena Games with victories in the 100m division 13 and men’s shot put division 4 at the New York University, yesterday.
The day started with long-distance runner Mariam Al Za’abi providing UAE with a gold in the 1,500m race. She was the only runner left after the qualifying round and so made it across the line unchallenged with a time of 09:15.78 seconds amid the cheer of the spectators.
This was Mariam’s second medal of the Mena Games; she had earlier bagged a silver in the 800m division 2 behind Tunisia’s Molka Khahiri.
“I’m very happy to finish in the first place and did not feel tired. I was so excited seeing the crowd cheering for me from the stands,” said an ecstatic Mariam adding that all her hard work in the run-up to the Special Olympic Games paid off.
“I was training all the time with my coach. He helped me to get faster. Hopefully, I can win more medals at the World Games next year,” added Mariam.
In the men’s 100m division 13, Al Hajeri clocked the fastest time of 00:15.89 seconds brushing aside the challenge from second-placed Mohammad Tolba from Mauritania. The third place was clinched by Khalifa Al Dossary of Qatar, who clocked 00:16.13 seconds.
Al Hajeri then completed a double with a throw of 11.18m in the men’s shot put. It was enough to eclipse the effort from Egypt’s Karim Ebrahim Sayed (8.19) and Algeria’s Sed Al Deen Al Tahir (7.56).
The 25m division 5 race also had an Emirati walking away with the gold. Ali Al Mesmari was fastest among the pack with a time of 00:05.61 seconds. Iraq’s Atheer Al Mashaabani and his compatriot Ali Al Janabi settled for the silver and bronze, respectively.
UAE’s women’s team comprising Hamda Al Hosani, Reem Al Beloushi, Nemah Haidarah and Asma Al Za’abi clinched silver in the 4x100 division 2 relay. The gold went to Bahraini team of Sara Al Husaini, Wala Ali, Natasha Ameen and Aisha Al Subei.
The silver was Hamda’s third medal in as many days, she had earlier bagged a gold and silver in the 100m and 200m sprints, respectively.
Libya’s Ala Al Furawi emerged as the best athlete of the Mena Games with a flurry of golds on the final day. He won the 100m division 12 with a time of 00:12.46. The silver was claimed by UAE’s Harib Malalla, who clocked 00:13.24 while Mahmoud Mohsin of Bahrain settled for the bronze.
Al Furawi then grabbed a gold in the 200m with a time of 00:25.03 and completed a treble by taking gold in division 3 of the men’s 4x100m relay with a time of 50.89 seconds. Another gold for Libya was provided by Hazem Mousa in the 400m.
“I feel very proud to have won the gold medal. My preparation was good and I feel ready now for next year’s World Games,” said a beaming Al Furawi.
Libya’s team coach Shaban Al Abrood speaking about their showing said: “We came to the games this week to participate. We weren’t sure if our level of ability would be as high as the other countries, but we wanted to be ready for the World Games in Abu Dhabi next year.
“It’s been a successful week. It was a good competition for us and I hope for an even better performance next year. This was the first Special Olympics for our athletes and they have exceeded their goals.”
UAE also had a silver medallist in the 100m division 14 with Ahmad Hassan settling for the second spot behind Palestine’s Amir Banat, who finished the race with a time of 00:16.37. The third place went to Iran’s Hamed Fathalain.
