Nearly 200 athletes compete in Day 1 of the 6th Fazza International Athletics IPC Grand Prix Competition 2014

New records broken in the men’s and women’s track races

Dubai, 23 February, 2014: Athletes from nearly 40 countries displayed true grit on Day 1 of the 6th Fazza International Athletics IPC Grand Prix Competition 2014 that took place at the Al Thiqa Club in Sharjah. Contestants competed in a range of events including wheelchair javelin, discus, shot put, long jump, 100 m, 200m, 800m and 1500m track races.

The Championships are being organised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and traditionally take place at the Dubai Police Club but have been moved to Sharjah this year.

Thani Juma Berregad - Chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee said: “Players have performed well on the first day and as I speak there are new numbers being recorded. There are several new participants this year who are giving the Grand Prix a new dimension.”

Fakhriddin Khamraev from Uzbekistan set a new Asian record in the 1500 m track racing in the men’s category (4.03:94 minutes), while Maria Lyle from Great Britain set a new European and world record (31.01 seconds) in the 200 m track racing.

As ecstatic Hamda Alhosani from the UAE won silver in the 100m races. She said: “This is my first time at the Grand Prix and I am very happy to have won silver. I dedicate this win to my family and friends and the Abu Dhabi Center for Disability where I train.”

Raya Al Ebry, Omani national who won gold in the wheelchair discus said: “This is my first time participating in the Grand Prix. I have won gold in Tunis, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait before, but I have broken my own personal record today. I would like to dedicate this win to my mother and would like to thank Fazza for supporting these sports.”

This is the second time the competition is being held in the UAE and the IPC Committee is thrilled at the commitment that Dubai has shown in encouraging differently abled sports.

Ryan Montgomery, IPC Athletics Sports Senior Manager, who was present at the venue said: “There are nearly 500 athletes competing in this Championship over four days and we are very excited to open the Grand Prix series in Dubai. Dubai was chosen because of its world class infrastructure facilities.”

Majid Abdullah Al Usaimi - Championship Director added: “The Grand Prix attracts highly skilled people from all over the world and adds to Dubai’s calendar of elite events. The IPC has devised new rules which are being applied to the competition for the very first time and we expect it will improve the overall quality of the Championships.”

After the 4 day series in Dubai, the Grand Prix moves to China, Brazil, the United States, Switzerland, Italy, Tunisia and Germany before culminating in the finals in the UK in August. The top eight athletes in each event will qualify for the finals in the UK.

The Grand Prix series will continue at Al Thiqa Club until 25 February 2014 from between 3.00 pm - 9.00 pm.

Participating Countries:

Tunisia; Slovakia; Nigeria; Greece; Saudi Arabia; Mexico; Japan; Scotland;  Great Britain; Algeria; Iraq; Azerbaijan; Germany; Bulgaria; Kazakhstan; Egypt; Kuwait; Qatar; Russia; Bahrain; Sweden; Thailand; Ireland; Brazil; Cameroon; Denmark; Jordan; Lithuania; Netherlands; Switzerland; Hong Kong; Gambia; India; Oman; Syria; Mauritius  and host nation the United Arab Emirates.