UAE powerlifter Mohammed Khamis Khalaf is taking part in his sixth Paralympics. Courtesy Asian Paralympic Committee
UAE powerlifter Mohammed Khamis Khalaf is taking part in his sixth Paralympics. Courtesy Asian Paralympic Committee
UAE powerlifter Mohammed Khamis Khalaf is taking part in his sixth Paralympics. Courtesy Asian Paralympic Committee
UAE powerlifter Mohammed Khamis Khalaf is taking part in his sixth Paralympics. Courtesy Asian Paralympic Committee

Tokyo Paralympics: the Mena athletes in action on Day 5


Matthew Kynaston
  • English
  • Arabic

Full day of action on the first Sunday of the Paralympics, which sees the opening of the 5-a-side football.

Archery

Yumenoshima Ranking Field

Having scored a personal best in the preliminary rounds of the women’s individual compound, Farzaneh Asgari of Iran is through to the elimination rounds. She will be up against Spain’s Carmen Rubio in the 1/16 elimination. Then in the evening session Asgari will be teaming up with Ramezan Bianani as they take on a pair from Great Britain in the mixed team compound quarter-final.

Athletics

Olympic Stadium

Husam Azzam is the sole paralympic representative of Palestine. This will be the 45-year-olds 6th Paralympic outing, the Sydey bronze and Athens silver medallist will be throwing in the seated shot put (F53) today alongside Alireza Mokhtari Hemami of Iran.

Reigning Paralympic champion and record holder in the men’s standing shot put (F40 class), Garrah Tnaiash of Iraq will be battling it out against Portugal’s Miguel Monteiro. The 20-year-old Portuguese set a new world record this year.

World and Paralympic record holder, Mohamed Berrahal of Algeria will be throwing for gold in the final of the seated discus throw.

Strong North African contingent in the final of the women’s seated javelin. Yousra Ben Jemaa of Tunisia has one of the longest throws this season out of the finalists. She will be joined by compatriot Sawsen Ben Mbarek, and Moroccans Fouzia El Kassioui and Saida Amoudi.

Lynda Hamri also from Algeria will be looking for a place on the podium in the women’s T12 long jump. She won silver in London and bronze in Rio, can she go all the way today?

Iraq’s Fatimah Suwaed will be running in the final of the women’s 200m T35 class.

Hoping to make it to the final of the men’s T13 100m are Algerian’s Salah Khelaifa, and Vahid Alinajmi of Iran.

Abdulrahman Al-Qurashi of Saudi Arabia will be running in for a place in the final of the men’s 400m T53 class.

Discus thrower Husam Azzam is Palestine's sole representative in Tokyo. Getty
Discus thrower Husam Azzam is Palestine's sole representative in Tokyo. Getty

Football 5-a-side

Aomi Urban Sport Park

Morocco’s men take on 2016 bronze medallists Argentina in their opening match.

Goalball

Makuhari Messe Hall

Israel’s women will be taking on the Chinese in their Group game, while Algeria are up against the USA.

Judo

Nippon Budokan

Abderrahmane Chetouane of Algeria will begin his tournament facing the host-nation’s Haruka Hirose in the men’s -90kg.

Iranian’s Vahid Nouri and Mohammad Kheirollahzadeh will begin their competitions in the quarterfinals of the Men’s 90kg and +100kg, respectively.

Powerlifting

Tokyo International Forum

Four more finals today in the International Forum, with some elite MENA talent to follow.

UAE’s very own Mohammed Khamis Khalaf will be defending his 2016 title in the men’s -88kg competition. He will have some tough competition, namely Abdelkareem Khattab from Jordan who lifted a world record 240kg in June this year. Look out too for 2012 champion Hany Adbelhady from Egypt.

Three-time medallist, Egyptian Amal Mahmoud will be once again looking to get on the podium in the women’s -73kg competition.

In the women’s -79kg competition, Egyptian Gehan Hassan, Moroccan Sanae Soubane and Asma Issa from Jordan will all be worth watching.

In the men’s -97kg tournament, Mohamed Ahmed from Egypyt, Seyedhamed Solhipouravanji of Iran and Mutaz AlJuneidi of Jordan all have a shot at the podium.

Israel's Mark Malyar struck gold in the the men’s 200m individual medley SM7. AFP
Israel's Mark Malyar struck gold in the the men’s 200m individual medley SM7. AFP

Sitting Volleyball

Makuhari Messe Hall

Egypt’s men open their Paralympic campaign against hosts Japan.

Swimming

Tokyo Aquatics Centre

21-year-old world record holder, Mark Malyar of Israel is on the hunt for another gold in his first Paralympic Games. After winning the 200m medley SM7, he now goes for more glory in the 400m freestyle. Look out too for compatriots Veronika Guirenko and Bashar Halabi in the heats of the women’s 50m backstroke and 100m breaststroke respectively.

Malak Abdelshafi of Egypt will be making her Paralympic debut as well, the 18-year-old will be racing in the SB4 class of the women’s 100m breaststroke.

Triathlon

Odaiba Marine Park

Fathi Zwoukhi is the only Mena athlete participating in any of the triathlons this year. The 35-year-old from Gabes will be lining up in the men’s PTWC race, first of the day.

Wheelchair Basketball

Various venues

Iran’s men take on Great Britain, while Algeria face against Germany in the same group. Algeria’s women go head-to-head with the USA.

Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBen%20Wheatley%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJason%20Statham%2C%20Jing%20Wu%2C%20Cliff%20Curtis%2C%20Page%20Kennedy%2C%20Cliff%20Curtis%2C%20Melissanthi%20Mahut%20and%20Shuya%20Sophia%20Cai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
McIlroy's recent struggles

Last six stroke-play events (First round score in brackets)

Arnold Palmer Invitational Tied for 4th (74)

The US Masters Tied for 7th (72)

The Players Championship Tied for 35th (73)

US Open Missed the cut (78)

Travellers Championship Tied for 17th (67)

Irish Open Missed the cut (72)

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates

The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.

FIGHT%20CARD
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Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Klipit%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Venkat%20Reddy%2C%20Mohammed%20Al%20Bulooki%2C%20Bilal%20Merchant%2C%20Asif%20Ahmed%2C%20Ovais%20Merchant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Digital%20receipts%2C%20finance%2C%20blockchain%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%244%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Privately%2Fself-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

if you go

The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.

The trip 

Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.

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If you go

The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road. 

The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
 

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Results:

6.30pm: Handicap | US$135,000 (Dirt) | 1,400 metres

Winner: Rodaini, Connor Beasley (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer)

7.05pm: Handicap | $135,000 (Turf) | 1,200m

Winner: Ekhtiyaar, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson

7.40pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (T) | 2,000m

Winner: Spotify, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby

8.15pm: UAE Oakes | Group 3 | $250,000 (D) | 1,900m

Winner: Divine Image, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

8.50pm: Zabeel Mile | Group 2 | $250,000 (T) | 1,600m

Winner: Mythical Image, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

9.20pm: Handicap | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m

Winner: Major Partnership, Kevin Stott, Saeed bin Suroor

Company profile: buybackbazaar.com

Name: buybackbazaar.com

Started: January 2018

Founder(s): Pishu Ganglani and Ricky Husaini

Based: Dubai

Sector: FinTech, micro finance

Initial investment: $1 million

Tonight's Chat on The National

Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.

Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.

Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.

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Premier League results

Saturday

Tottenham Hotspur 1 Arsenal 1

Bournemouth 0 Manchester City 1

Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Huddersfield Town 0

Burnley 1 Crystal Palace 3

Manchester United 3 Southampton 2

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Cardiff City 0

West Ham United 2 Newcastle United 0

Sunday

Watford 2 Leicester City 1

Fulham 1 Chelsea 2

Everton 0 Liverpool 0

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

MATCH DETAILS

Barcelona 0

Slavia Prague 0

MATCH INFO

Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)

Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, kick-off 10.45pm
Live: On BeIN Sports HD

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed

Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.

Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.

The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.

One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.

That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.

Ashes 2019 schedule

August 1-5: First Test, Edgbaston

August 14-18: Second Test, Lord's

August 22-26: Third Test, Headingley

September 4-8: Fourth Test, Old Trafford

September 12-16: Fifth Test, Oval

Updated: August 29, 2021, 4:12 AM`