A respectable result for the Saudi national team in Muscat
In an exceptional performance reflecting the significant development of Paralympic sports in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi national team continued their outstanding performance at the 5th West Asian Paralympic Games held in Muscat, Oman, bringing the Kingdom's total medal count to 45. This impressive haul comprised 20 gold, 17 silver, and 8 bronze medals, underscoring the strong presence and fierce competition of the Saudi athletes at this important regional event.
General context and importance of the course
The West Asian Paralympic Games, held under the auspices of the Asian Paralympic Committee, is a vital sporting platform for athletes with disabilities in the region. The Games aim to foster a spirit of fair competition, facilitate the exchange of expertise, and provide athletes with the opportunity to showcase their talents and achieve qualifying times for larger continental and international competitions. Saudi Arabia's participation in this edition is a culmination of the Saudi Paralympic Committee's efforts to develop and support athletes, aligning with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which places particular emphasis on empowering all segments of society through sports and achieving excellence on the global stage.
The "mother of all sports" and badminton are superior
Wednesday witnessed a remarkable performance by the athletics (the mother of all sports) and badminton teams, as they together contributed to adding 24 new medals to the Kingdom’s tally (11 gold, 8 silver, 5 bronze) in the competitions held at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
18 medals for athletics
The track and field athletes dominated the day's achievements, winning 18 medals (8 gold, 7 silver, and 3 bronze). Among the most notable results:
- Ali Al-Nakhli: Gold medal in the 200m T37 race.
- Nour Al-Sanaa: Gold medal in the 200m T44 race.
- Al-Baraa Al-Qarni: Two gold medals in the 1500m and 800m T54 races.
- Haider Salami: Gold medal in the F57 javelin throw.
- Abdulrahman Al-Qurashi: Gold medal in the 200m T53 race.
- Hani Al-Nakhli: Gold medal in the F33 javelin throw.
- Hadeel Al-Thuwaie: Gold in discus throw F34 and bronze in javelin throw F34.
The competitions also saw silver and bronze medals won by Thamer Al-Zahrani, Jawad Al-Alawi, Saleh Al-Suwailem, Mohammed Al-Yami, Jumaan Al-Zahrani, Fahd Al-Turki, Rabab Al-Sihaiti, and Ziyad Al-Khurayb.
Badminton concludes its participation with 7 medals
The national badminton team concluded its successful participation with a total of 7 medals, demonstrating the significant improvement in the sport's level. The medals were won by Mohammed Al-Ali (gold), Younis Al-Subhi (two golds), Mahdi Al-Makina (silver), Essam Ba'iti (two bronzes), in addition to a silver in the standing doubles and a bronze in the wheelchair doubles.
Continued successes in team sports
Saudi Arabia’s brilliance was not limited to individual sports, as the goalball team managed to secure its place in the quarter-finals, topping its group after two sweeping victories over the UAE and Oman teams with scores of 10-0 and 10-3 respectively, which strengthens its hopes of competing for one of the tournament’s medals.
Stay tuned for upcoming competitions
Saudi Arabia’s participation in the tournament continues on Thursday, with Saudi champions competing in six important events in athletics, goalball, wheelchair basketball, swimming, table tennis, and boccia, with hopes of continuing to win medals and raise the Kingdom’s flag high.
