Emotional moment for proud mother Siham Alrasheedy after gold medal triumph

Dubai: It was an emotional moment for UAE’s Siham Alrasheedy as she clinched the women’s discus F52-57 gold medal at the ongoing 16th Fazza Para Athletics Grand Prix — Dubai 2025.

Alrasheedy hurled the discus to a distance of 22.96 metres to take the gold at her home ground.

The 43-year-old trainee at the Dubai Club has been a regular to the Fazza Para Athletics Championships since its inception and has won several medals at the event in the past. But the 2025 edition was special.

Teary-eyed Alrasheedy

She was cheered by her family from the recently renovated Dubai Club for People of Determination stadium stands as she competed. “It was a proud and emotional moment for me as my mother and my son (Abdullah) were cheering for me from the stands,” said a teary-eyed Alrasheedy, who is also a Para Badminton player in Wheelchair WH2 category and aims to improve her rankings this year.

“They inspired me a lot to win the gold today. I am so happy to start the season with a success.”

Alrasheedy was joined by two more Emirati players on the top of the podium including Sara Aljneibi, the Rio 2026 Paralympic bronze medallist and Abdalla Almarzooqi as UAE’s god medals reached seven.

Aljneibi claimed the fifth gold medal for the host nation with an effort of 5.22 metres in women’s shot put F32/33 final. Emirati Thekra Al Kaabi, who already has a gold at the event, finished fourth in the same event.

Meanwhile, Almarzooqi claimed the yellow metal in men’s 100m T71/72 final, finishing the race in 24.65 seconds.

Promising Mohamad Othman continued to make the most of his good form taking the bronze in men’s 400m wheelchair T34 final. He touched the finishing line in 51.23 seconds.

Hug claims gold again

Among the top names: Swiss legend Marcel Hug continued to spell his magic on the Dubai Club for People of Determination blue Mondo tracks. He finished the men’s 800m wheelchair T53/54 timeraces in 1:34.21 to take his third gold medal.

Hug’s compatriot Patricia Eachus won her second medal at the Fazza championships clinching the top place in women’s 800m wheelchair T54 final in 1:50.78 seconds.

Greece’s two-time Paralympic champion Athanasios Ghavelas kicked off the 2025 season with a gold in men’s 100m T11 final. He was happy to take the gold but hoped to improve his timing in the coming time — he managed a timing of 11.43s after a fall in the start of the race. “The World Championship in New Delhi is the target for me this year.”

At the medal standings, UAE are in third place with 18 medals including seven gold, behind India and Saudi Arabia, who have won eight gold each.