Dubai athletes getting ready for Paralympics

With all concentration presently on the Athens Olympics, a 14-member squad from the Dubai Club for Special Needs are quietly getting themselves prepared for the Paralympics to be staged at the same venue from September 12-29.

"We have our focus set on the Paralympic Games where we hope to give off our best efforts," Ahmad Mohammad Hassan, the chief of the delegation said.

The first Paralympic Games for athletes with a disability were held in 1948 in Stoke Mandeville, England.

Focusing on the athlete and not on disability, the Athens Paralympic Games will provide the spectators, viewers and volunteers a unique experience showcasing the athletes' pursuit of a lifetime performance.

As many as 15 sports on the Paralympic programme are shared with the Olympic Games, including Archery, Athletics, Wheelchair Basketball, Cycling, Equestrian, Wheelchair Fencing, Football 5-a-side, Football 7-a-side, Judo, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Wheelchair Tennis, Volleyball.

The UAE athletes include Khamis Masaood, Mohammad Khamis Khalaf, Saeed Mohammad Saeed, Ahmad Eisa Yacoub, Mohammad Hameed Khalfan, Juma Salim Hassan and Mana Abdullah Khalifa, who recently won a gold medal in the shot putt at the German Open Paralympic Championships held in Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

"Our athletes are in a good form and they should be peaking by the time the Paralympic Games commence," Hassan stated. "The athletes themselves have been preparing for the Games by participating in various international meets. They are now eager to prove what they are capable of," he added.

Mana Abdullah Khalifa, an employee of the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone, recently won the gold medal in the shot putt event at the German Open Paralympic Championships, held in Wilhelmshaven.

"We are confident of achieving some good results at the Games," Hassan promised.

Team
Mana Abdullah Khalifa, Juma Salim Hassan, Mohammad Hameed Khalfan, Ahmad Essa Yacoub, Saeed Mohammad Saeed, Mohammad Khamis Khalaf, Khamis Masaood (all athletes); Najeeb Maskkan, Ammar Yasser (both track and field coaches); Tito Qasim (Weightlifting coach); Pratap Kumar (physiotherapist); Saifuddin Al Fadhel, Ravi Narayan (helpers); Ahmad Mohammad Hassan (chief of delegation)