Silver medallist Mohamed Al Hammadi of Team United Arab Emirates on the podium after the men’s 800m - T34 Final in Tokyo. Getty
Silver medallist Mohamed Al Hammadi of Team United Arab Emirates on the podium after the men’s 800m - T34 Final in Tokyo. Getty
Silver medallist Mohamed Al Hammadi of Team United Arab Emirates on the podium after the men’s 800m - T34 Final in Tokyo. Getty
Silver medallist Mohamed Al Hammadi of Team United Arab Emirates on the podium after the men’s 800m - T34 Final in Tokyo. Getty

UAE's Mohamed Al Hammadi wins silver in 800m T34 for fifth overall Paralympics medal


Amith Passela
  • English
  • Arabic

Mohamed Al Hammadi said he can take "a lot of positives" from the Tokyo Paralympics after the Emirati athlete claimed his second medal of the Games with a silver in the T34 wheelchair 800-metres on Saturday.

Al Hammadi, who won bronze in the 100m T34 on Monday, was nail-bitingly close to defending his 800m Paralympic title but had to settle for silver behind Tunisia's Walid Ktila, who took gold with a time of one minute 45.50 seconds, just 0.09 ahead of Al Hammadi.

China’s Yang Wang took bronze with a season best time of 1:45.68 in a race that saw the first three finish well clear of the rest of the field.

“We have been racing against each other for a very long time. I win some and he wins some. This time it was his day,” said Al Hammadi, who beat Ktila to gold at Rio 2016.

“It was a very close race between the first three to cross the line. It is always disappointing when you come so close and lose, but that’s what these competitions are all about.

“I can still take a lot of positives from this result. To be on the podium two times in two competitions at a Paralympic Games I believe is a good result. I am happy with my performance and I am happy for my good friend Walid.”

The UAE now won have three medals in Tokyo following shooter Abdulla Sultan Al Aryani’s gold in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1 on Friday.

“To have won a gold, silver and bronze in a Paralympic Games from a squad of 12 athletes is a pretty good achievement from the UAE,” said Al Hammadi, who took his overall Paralympics medal tally to five after a silver and a bronze at London 2012 in the 200m and 100m T34 respectively.

The wheelchair racer is also hoping the trio of shooters in the Mixed 50 Rifle Prone – Abdulla Sultan, Abdulla Saif Al Aryani and Saif Al Nuaimi – can add another medal or two in Sunday’s final day of the Games.

“We are not done yet,” Al Hammadi said. “We still have a chance to win a medal or two with our shooters Abdulla Sultan, Abdulla Saif and Saif Al Nuami on the final day.

“Abdulla Sultan has been around in the top flight in the world for a long time. He won gold at London 2012 and winning gold on Friday must surely have raised his confidence.

“He won three silvers at Rio and I am really hopeful for him to add another medal for us.”

The biog

Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi

Age: 23

How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them

Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need

Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman

Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs 

Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing

Kamindu Mendis bio

Full name: Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis

Born: September 30, 1998

Age: 20 years and 26 days

Nationality: Sri Lankan

Major teams Sri Lanka's Under 19 team

Batting style: Left-hander

Bowling style: Right-arm off-spin and slow left-arm orthodox (that's right!)

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
While you're here
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Sand storm

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  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut

Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

TOUR RESULTS AND FIXTURES

 

June 3: NZ Provincial Barbarians 7 Lions 13
June 7: Blues 22 Lions 16
June 10: Crusaders 3 Lions 12
June 13: Highlanders 23 Lions 22
June 17: Maori All Blacks 10 Lions 32
June 20: Chiefs 6 Lions 34
June 24: New Zealand 30 Lions 15
June 27: Hurricanes 31 Lions 31
July 1: New Zealand 21 Lions 24
July 8: New Zealand v Lions

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS

Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.

Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.

Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.

'Spies in Disguise'

Director: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane

Stars: Will Smith, Tom Holland, Karen Gillan and Roshida Jones 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Updated: September 04, 2021, 1:58 PM`