PARALYMPICS – Bahrain's Rooba Alomari had a strong showing yesterday in the women’s discus throw F55 category final at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in France.
Alomari came just three places shy of the podium in taking sixth place overall amongst the 12 participants in her event.
She registered a best throw of 23.24 metres in her sixth and final attempt. She had earlier posted marks of 21.99m, 22.05m, 22.14m, 22.95m, and 22.77m, before finishing with her top effort.
Reigning world champion Erica Maria Castano Salazar of Colombia also became the Olympic champion yesterday, winning gold with a best throw of 26.70m. She edged out Tokyo 2021 gold-medallist Dong Feixia of China, who had to settle for silver this time with a mark of 26.67m, which is a new Asian record. Rosa Maria Guerrero Cazares of Mexico won the bronze with a 25.81m effort.
Finishing just ahead of Alomari in fourth was Diana Krumina of Latvia with a best of 24.31m and Norelhouda El Kaoui of Morocco in fifth, who had a top throw of 23.42m, which is an African record.
Competing in her third Paralympics, Alomari registered her second-best placing in the discus throw F55, which is the category for participants in field events taking part from a seated position. The 33-year-old was fifth in Tokyo and seventh in Rio 2016.
Meanwhile, Bahrain’s other para athlete in Paris, Husain Mohamed, will today make his Paralympics debut. He begins his medal bid alongside running guide Abdallah Djimel in the men’s 400 metres T11 category, which is the class for para-athletes with a high level of visual impairment.
Action begins with the first round of heats, scheduled for a 1.26pm start, Bahrain time. Mohamed will be running in the first of four races. He will need to win his heat or be amongst the next four fastest in order to advance to the semi-finals, which are scheduled to take place this evening from 8.43pm.
The other competitors in his heat are Ananias Shikongo of Namibia and guide Even Tjiuiju, Gauthier Mukunda of France and guide Lucas Mathonat, and Urganchbek Egamnazarov of Uzbekistan and guide Sardor Bakhitiyorov.
Mohamed heads into his run with a personal best of 53.09 seconds, which is also his season’s best.
The 29-year-old will be hoping to add to Bahrain’s 10-medal haul in the history of the Paralympics. The kingdom’s tally includes two gold medals, won by Fatema Abdulrazzaq in 2016 in Brazil and Khaled Al Saqer in 1988 in South Korea, three silver, and five bronze medals.
The three silver medals were claimed by Ahmed Meshaima in 2004 in Greece, Ayman Al Heddi in 2000 in Australia, and Adel Sultan in 1988 in South Korea.
The five bronze medals were clinched by Ahmed Kamal in 2000 in Australia, Al Saqer in 1992 in Spain, Ali Alhasan in 1988 in South Korea, and both Khaled Al Binfalah and Sultan in 1984 in the UK/USA.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh