UAE’s celebrated middle-distance racer Mohammed Al Hammadi delivered as promised clinching the first gold for the hosts with a championship record as the Dubai 2019 World Para Athletics Championships closed after nine-day of exciting competitions on Friday.

Hammadi, who already has the silver and bronze in men’s 400m and men’s 100m, finished the race in 1 minute and 44.36 seconds to claim the top place in men’s 800 T34, ahead of Tunisia legend Walid Ktila (1:44.79) and Yang Wang (1:46.04).

Having qualified in the first place, Hammadi surged ahead in the last 200 metres to overcome Yang who stayed throughout in most part of the race.

“I am happy from the core of my heart. I fought to win the gold in 100m and 400m races but I couldn’t. Today, I got this gold for UAE. If my people are happy than I am happy. To hear the national anthem at the podium will one of things that we train for. I will now see my family after long time,” Hammadi said after his first Worlds title in 800m T34. He now has three Worlds title altogether.

“Like every other athlete, I will be also training hard for Tokyo 2020. The competition will be hard. But I will try to put the UAE flag in the podium,” the 34-year-old Rio 2016 gold medallist added on his Tokyo 2020 plans.

Among other UAE players, Paralympic medallist Sara Al Senaani finished ninth place with a personal best throw of 5.33m in women’s shotput F53 final, which was won by Poland’s Lucyna Kornobys with a world record effort of 7.81 metres.

Senaani’s compatriot Aishah Salem Al Khaaldi ended in 11th spot.

UAE finished the medals tally in the joint 33rd place with one gold, one silver and a bronze, all clinched by Hammadi.

Overall it was China who topped the medals tally with 59 medals including 25 golds. Brazil (39) and Great Britain (28) followed China. USA ended fourth with 34 medals.

Russia, participating in the Championships for the first time after 2016 doping ban, were sixth with 41 medals.

As five more world records fell on the final day making it a total of 49, 15 better than London 2019, Ukraine’s Ihor Tsvietov recorded two consecutive world records in as many days, first in the heats of 100m T35 final before breaking it again in the finals.

He reached the finishing line in 11.77 seconds for his third world record here after his record-breaking show in men’s 200m T35 final.

German ‘Blade Runner’ Johannes Floors was on Cloud Nine after signing off the Championships with two world record en route two gold medals. Floors took his second gold with a world record effort of 45.78s in men’s 400m T62 final.

“It was my dream to finish the race near to 45 seconds. I got 45.78 seconds and a world record. I am very happy. Two World records in the championships: No words to describe my feeling. All the hard work is finally is falling in place,” Floors said exuding confidence for Tokyo 2020 Games.

In the first-ever Race Running finals at a World Para Athletics Championships, Great Britain won golds in men’s and women’s 100m RR3 finals.

Gavin Drysdale (16.72) and Kayleigh Haggo (18.32) took the top positions with their personal best timings.

Among others world record beating performers of the day were, USA’s Cinnamo Joshua (16.80m) in men’s shot put F46 and Xiaoyan Wen (27.11s) in women’s 200m T37 finals.