Mohammed Al Hammadi, the multiple Paralympic medal winner, leads a 50-strong UAE team in the 13th Fazza International Dubai 2022 World Para Athletics Grand Prix starting on Monday.
The four-day event has drawn more than 500 athletes from 43 countries and will be held at the Dubai Club for People of Determination, providing athletes qualification points for both the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in July/August and October's Asian Para Games in Hangzhou.
Al Hammadi won silver and bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, before that had secured gold at Rio 2016, silver and bronze at 2012 London, in the T34 wheelchair category.
He competes in the men’s 800m T34 event and leads a 50-member UAE squad that also include Rio 2016 medallists (silver) Noura Al Ketbi and Sara Al Junaibi (bronze) besides Indonesia 2018 Asian Para Games bronze medallist Mariam Al Matrooshi.
“This year we have the Asian Para Games and the Fazza Championship will be an ideal prep going into the summer,” Al Hammadi said.
“I have just started my training and want to go step by step. I am not thinking too much about the result here but the focus will be to achieve good results be consistently, and control my body and mind.”
Al Hammadi is set to meet his main challenger Tunisian Walid Ktila, a four-time Paralympic champion. They faced-off earlier this year at the Sharjah International Open Para Athletics meet with Walid taking gold.
The rivalry between the two goes back to more than 10 years and Al Hammadi insisted it as a fierce competition on the track but a long-standing friendship off it.
“For me, it was a good start to the season,” said of his first meeting of the year against Ktila. “I am happy with that result while still getting used to with my new top-end wheelchair. I hope I can get good results this time around and in the season ahead.”
Among the top names in the championship are Switzerland’s Marcel Hug, the six-time Paralympic and nine-time World champion in the wheelchair.
Top athletes taking part in the men’s events include Columbia’s Jose Gregorio Lemos (men’s 100m, long jump and javelin F/T38), Iraq’s Garrah Tnaiash (shot put F40) and Malaysian Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi (400m T46).
In women’s, Australian Paralympic star Angela Ballard will be the favourite in the wheelchair race while Indonesia's Asian Para Games gold medallist sprinters Putri Aulia and Karisma Evi Tiarani are ones to watch in the 100m races.
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The biog
Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.
It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.
They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.
THE APPRENTICE
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5
if you go
The flights
Flydubai flies to Podgorica or nearby Tivat via Sarajevo from Dh2,155 return including taxes. Turkish Airlines flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Podgorica via Istanbul; alternatively, fly with Flydubai from Dubai to Belgrade and take a short flight with Montenegro Air to Podgorica. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Podgorica via Belgrade. Flights cost from about Dh3,000 return including taxes. There are buses from Podgorica to Plav.
The tour
While you can apply for a permit for the route yourself, it’s best to travel with an agency that will arrange it for you. These include Zbulo in Albania (www.zbulo.org) or Zalaz in Montenegro (www.zalaz.me).
The specs
Price: From Dh529,000
Engine: 5-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 520hp
Torque: 625Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.8L/100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Results
6pm: Dubai Trophy – Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner: Silent Speech, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby
(trainer)
6.35pm: Jumeirah Derby Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (T)
1,800m
Winner: Island Falcon, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
7.10pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Dirt)
1,400m
Winner: Rawy, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
7.45pm: Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Desert Fire, Hector Crouch, Saeed bin Suroor
8.20pm: Al Fahidi Fort – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Naval Crown, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.55pm: Dubawi Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Al Tariq, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watsons
9.30pm: Aliyah – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Dubai Icon, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
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ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Price, base / as tested: Dh101,140 / Dh113,800
Engine: Turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder
Power: 148hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm @ 2,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed CVT
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
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New schools in Dubai