Hug sets new record, UAE finish with 9 medals

The curtains fell on the 15th Fazza International Para Athletics Grand Prix - Dubai 2024 with the hosts winning their first gold medal while legendary wheelchair racer Marcel Hug saved the best for last — a new world record in men’s 5000m T54 — on Thursday evening.

Overall, the hosts claimed nine medals, highlighted by the gold by Emirati Paralympic star Mohamed Hammadi in his pet event men’s 800m T34 wheelchair race, while Noura Alketbi, Maryam Alzeyoudi, and Maryam Alzeyoudi claimed silver medals at the Dubai Club for People of Determination grounds.

On the final day, apart from Hammadi’s heroic performance, Dubai Club trainee Omair Younas attained a personal best throw of 24.28 m for bronze in the men’s javelin wheelchair final F55.

“It was a great event. I am very happy to achieve my personal best today. It’s a good stepping stone for bigger events. I want to play more international events and hopefully, this year I would be playing more events and improve further,” said Omair, who was part of the triumphant UAE’s men wheelchair basketball team at the West Asia Para Games in Sharjah.

However, the highlight of the final day was the record breaking shows from legendary long-distance racer Marcel Hug in the men’s 5000 m wheelchair final T54, who improved his own world record*, racing in 9:13,81 mins.

“I feel very happy. It’s nice to be back here in Dubai. It’s early in the season, but it’s an important competition for me to see where I am standing, where I need to improve; it’s important for preparation in the build-up to the Paris 2024 Paralympics. So far, I am very satisfied with the competitions and my timings here in the UAE,” said the six-time Paralympic and 12-time world champion, who already has three more golds in Dubai: the 400m, 800m and 1500m T54 races.

“A lot of training, discipline, and experience,” added the legend when asked about his winning secret.

Another wheelchair racing great David Weir of Great Britain settled for the second place with a timing of 9:13.83min, just 0.2 seconds behind Hug.

Belgium sprinter Roger Habsch had a special outing in Dubai, setting his second world record* in the Grand Prix en route to winning the men’s 200 m final T51 in 35.74s on Thursday.

Meanwhile, another Swiss star Catherine Debrunner signed off in style much like she had started their campaign winning the women’s 5000 m wheelchair final T54 in 9:13,81min.

Facing off against the illustrious Great Britain duo of Hannah Cockroft (T34) and Samantha Kinghorn (T53) as well as USA’s great Tatyana McFadden (T54), Debrunner delivered time and again in an opening day which saw her pick up three gold medals. The success in the 100m, 800m and 1500m came in various styles. 100m saw her pip Kinghorn to the line, while in the other two the Swiss athlete dominated the field for big victories.

And as if that was not enough, Debrunner would emerge on top of the podium for both the 400m T53 and the 5000m T54.

Among other Arab nations, Para athletes from Syria, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Algeria won medals including the gold medal from Abdellatif Baka in men’s 1500m men final T13/20.

As many as 573 Para athletes from 71 nations compete at the 15th edition of the Grand Prix in a quest to qualify for Kobe 2024 World Para Athletics Championships and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.