The curtain fell on the 16th Fazza Para Athletics Grand Prix – Dubai 2025 last week with Asian nations dominating the season opener, taking the top two positions at the grounds of the recently-renovated Dubai Club for People of Determination.
India topped the medals table with nine gold medals and were joined by Saudi Arabia and Kenya in the top three positions. The hosts United Arab Emirates finished fourth with 21 medals including eight gold medals. China, with five gold medals, were at sixth position at the end of the competition.
Para athletes from 20 Asian countries showed up at the Dubai 2025 Grand Prix with most of the nations selecting the new generation of athletes who are beginning their Paralympic journey and getting an international classification at the event.
Many of these athletes are also looking to qualify for the upcoming Asian Para Games to be held in 2026, in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan and the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, India this September.
The Asian stars also ensured that the championships witnessed some record-breaking performances. Saudi Arabia’s Naif Almasrahi finished the men’s 100m T44 category clocking 11.23 seconds for the gold in an Asian record while India’s Sagar Thayat threw the discus to 49.09 metres in men’s discus throw F43 category.
First-time participation
The participation of two nations – Nepal and Yemen – was a highlight of the championships as it was the first time they competed in a Para Athletics Grand Prix.
They returned home without any medals but with a wealth of experience as they aim to continue participating and achieve qualification for future events. Both delegations are looking forward to participating in the New Delhi Grand Prix.
Wen, Lijuan, Alqurashi shine
Among the top Asian stars, nine-time Paralympic gold medallist Wen Xiaoyan from China opened the season with a gold medal women’s 100m T37 category. Her compatriot, Zou Lijuan, also a multiple time Paralympic champion, also was victorious in the women’s shot put and javelin wheelchair F34 category.
Saudi Arabia’s Paris 2024 Paralympic hero Abdulrahman Alqurashi also returned to his favourite hunting ground to win the gold in men’s 100m T53 races.
The hosts’ UAE uncovered a new star in men’s wheelchair racing as youngster Mohamad Othman claimed a gold in men’s 100m T34 race as well as two bronze medals in 400m and 800m races.
There were also top international names including the Swiss legend Marcel Hug who topped the podium in all the three races he competed – men’s 800m, 1500m and 5000m T54 wheelchair races.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the season-opening Grand Prix was saw around 400 para-athletes from 52 nations competing between February 10 to 13, 2025.
