UAE athlete Mohammed Youssef Othman kicked off the new season with a remarkable performance, securing the gold medal in the men’s 100m T34 event on the opening day of the 17th Fazza International Para Athletics Championships held in Dubai. This victory marks a significant achievement as he earned the first gold medal for the host nation at the Dubai 2026 Grand Prix.
Competing at the Dubai Club for People of Determination, where he has honed his athletic skills, the 22-year-old Othman finished the race in 15.00 seconds. His impressive run placed him ahead of Tunisia’s five-time Paralympic champion Walid Ktila, who clocked in at 15.39 seconds. Fellow UAE athlete Ahmed Nawad claimed the bronze medal with a time of 15.97 seconds.
Following his win, Othman expressed his satisfaction, stating, “It feels great to win the gold medal at the start of the season. I’m happy with the way I raced today. This has set the tone going ahead here and in the season.” He emphasized his primary goal for the year, which is to achieve gold at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya.
Othman’s ambition has been further fueled following the New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships. He has actively engaged in overseas training sessions in Poland and Tunisia, where he trained alongside Ktila, enhancing his skills and competitiveness.
Ktila, recognizing Othman’s potential, remarked, “Othman is like a son to me. He has a very bright future. We have participated in many events together, and he also visited Tunisia, where I helped him with my experience. I believe he will go far.” His words underline the bond they share and Othman’s promising trajectory in men’s wheelchair T34.
In addition to Othman’s accolades, Maryam Alzeyoudi, the Kobe 2024 world champion, also delivered a noteworthy performance for the UAE. She secured her nation’s second gold medal by winning the women’s discus throw F11/38/40/41/44 final, achieving a throw of 20.47 meters. Alzeyoudi outperformed Tunisian champion Raoua Tlili, who recorded a distance of 27.96 meters in the combined category.
The day also saw Mohammed Almazrouei finish strong in another wheelchair racing event, clocking 16.72 seconds but narrowly missing first place to Thailand’s Setthawut Phueakfueang, who finished in 16.67 seconds in the men’s 100m wheelchair T53 final. Also in contention, Rio 2016 Paralympic medalist Sara Aljneibi earned a silver in the women’s javelin F33/34 final with a throw of 8.93 meters, falling short of winner Bhagyashri Ma Jadhav’s 14.13 meters.
Other UAE athletes contributing to the medal tally included Ahmed Alhosani in the men’s shot put F33, Eisa Almazrouei in the men’s shot put F32, Mohammed Al Kaabi in the men’s shot put F36, and Salem Alshehhi in the men’s 100m T54, showcasing the country’s depth in para athletics.
Internationally recognized competitors also made headlines, with two-time Paralympic champion Sumit Antil starting his season with a throw of 68.26 meters, winning the gold in the men’s javelin F42/44/64 final. Additionally, Pakistan’s Tokyo 2020 Paralympic champion Haider Ali celebrated a strong season opener by winning the men’s discus F36/37 final with a throw of 54.71 meters on his fourth attempt.
The championships continue to be a platform for both emerging and established athletes, highlighting the dedication and resilience of competitors in para athletics.