Qatari world-record holder Abdelrahman Abdelqader.
By Sports Reporter/Doha
Doha is ready to witness the most incredible athletes in the world. 10 days of intense sporting competition starting today will see more than 1,300 athletes from 90 countries competing for world titles and coveted qualification spots to Rio 2016 Paralympics. It is a proud sporting moment for Qatar and is destined to tell tales of triumph over adversity that will inspire the entire community for generations.
Speaking on the eve of the championships, CEO of the Organising Committee, Ameer al-Mulla said: “To see the best para-athletes in the world here in Doha will be an incredible experience for everyone. We will witness the ultimate demonstration of human capacity and mental strength in any sporting arena. These are the biggest IPC Athletics World Championships in history with 20% more athletes and 39% more females competing than ever before. The action from Doha will be screened in over 30 countries worldwide, so there is so much to look forward to.
“The theme for these World Championships is ‘Beyond Incredible’, which I think is fitting as there will be incredible competition and incredible people with inspiring stories in action during this 10-day event. I urge local communities to come out to Qatar Sports Club and support their heroes; here will be something for all to see.”
During a press conference yesterday, Qatar’s Abdulrahman Abdulqader, an F34 athlete who set a shot put world record during the Doha 2015 test event said: “I am very proud for my country to be hosting this huge event and it will help to raise awareness of para sport in the Middle East. I hope to perform well here and do my country proud. I want to achieve my best here in Doha and win something for my home country. It will be amazing to win gold in front of my friends and family here. As a team we have had excellent preparation. I have been working very hard and this was reflected in my world record I made here in the test event. I urge all fans and local public to come down and support me and the Qatar team.”
USA’s Richard Browne a T44 100m Paralympic and world silver medallist who was undefeated for two years until September 2015 said: “I am always the man to beat. The athletes that I am up against here are all very competitive and have proved themselves over the last couple of years, they are all extremely capable of doing well against me. I try to focus on myself and my own running, and I certainly won’t be looking back. This is a blazing fast track and the weather is good here. The track here is amazing and has seen some of the best runners perform their best times here, I am excited to run here at these great facilities here in Qatar.”
Visually impaired Brazilian sprinter Terezinha Guilhermina, an eight-time world and three-time Paralympic champion said: “My biggest opponent here in Doha is myself, and if I have to please anyone it is myself, that’s all I am here for. I am always looking forward to beating my best. I am here to run below 12 seconds here and I hope to achieve that.”
While Germany’s Markus Rehm, the world’s best long jumper and the current Paralympic, world and European champion added: “The goal is to jump over 8m here and the conditions seem perfect to do this. My goal is to win gold here but the world record would be great, I am in good shape and my training is going very well, the conditions here in Doha are good so hopefully I will leave here with gold and a new personal best, which of course means a new world record. I don’t feel more pressure being on all the posters here at the world championships, and certainly don’t feel any more in the spot light. I am happy to show the world what we can achieve as para athletes and I always try to focus on my personal progression going into competition.”
Others present at the press conference yesterday were Marcel Hug (Switzerland), Marlou van Rhijn (the Netherlands), Alan Oliveira (Brazil), Aled Davies (Great Britain) and Jason Smyth (Ireland).