Indian para-athletes continued their good show at the 12th Fazza International Championships – Dubai 2021 World Para Athletics Grand Prix winning five medals, including two gold, on the second day of the competitions.
Para athlete Simran got closer to her Paralympic dream clinching the gold in women’s 100m T13 final clocking 12.74 seconds. This was her second international medal after the China Grand Prix in 2019.
“It feels very good to finally compete internationally. Almost after two years, I was competing in an event. Though I had felt some pain in my hamstring; this is a recurring injury.
“My dream is to break the world record athe t Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. I am targeting 11.40secs. I will work harder to better my timing now,” said the visually impaired athlete from Burari, a constituency in Central Delhi District.
Meanwhile, 36-year-old Neeraj Yadav hurled the discus to a distance of 35.49m to take the gold in Men’s Discus Throw F55.
Yadav, who is an Asian Para Games gold medallist in Javelin, finished ahead of Ignas Madumla Mtweve (35.49m) and Iran’s Paralympic medallist Hamed Amiri (27.25m).
In men’s long jump final T44, Praveen Kumar (5.95m) and Pardeep (5.73m) claimed the second and third positions with jumps of 5.95m and 5.73m, respectively and finishing Kantinan Khumphong (5.50m in T63). It was a combined T44/63 event.
Among others, Bhagyashri Mahavir Jadhav claimed the bronze medal in women’s Javelin F34 with a throw of 11.36m.
Coach Satyanarayana was satisfied that the team delivered as expected. “I am targeting at least 10 gold medals from this championship. I have a lot of confidence in our athletes. They will deliver. ”
The second day of the competition also had a new world record by France’s Marie Amelie Le Fur who leaped an astounding 6.14metres en route taking the gold in women’s long jump F63/64 event.
This year’s Championships, hosted under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, will serve as one of the seven qualifying Para Athletics events for Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games with over 600 Para-athletes from 63 countries competing here.