The UAE Special Olympics delegation that participated in the Malta National Games 2024 returned home yesterday, after winning 15 colored medals.
The delegation, consisting of 20 players with disabilities representing various clubs for people with disabilities in the country, participated in the games held from September 12 to 15 in five sports: swimming, table tennis, athletics, football and bocce.
In swimming, the players won three medals (gold, silver and bronze) in addition to fourth place.
The football team came in first place, winning a well-deserved gold medal, and athletics witnessed distinguished participation by UAE players, who succeeded in winning two gold, two silver and two bronze medals, in addition to fourth and sixth places respectively.
The performance of the UAE Special Olympics players in table tennis was no less impressive, as they won one gold medal, three silver medals and one bronze medal, in addition to the fifth place.
The UAE Special Olympics also secured fourth place in bocce in the games in which 600 players participated, including 100 international players.
Talal Al Hashemi, National Director of the Special Olympics UAE, said: “We are delighted that our players won 15 medals at the Malta National Games 2024, and raised the UAE flag high. This is a new achievement to be added to their international achievements. During the competitions, we were very proud to watch their strong performance, and although we were sure from the beginning that they would compete strongly during the games, given their good preparation during the training camp, their level exceeded all our expectations. I can only thank them all and the technical and administrative team accompanying them.”
The Special Olympics UAE organised a training camp from September 6 to 10, which included sports training and psychological support sessions for them, before selecting the players participating in the games from various clubs for people of determination in the country, such as the Abu Dhabi Club for People of Determination, the Thiqa Club for the Disabled, the Dubai Club for People of Determination, the Al Ain Club for People of Determination, and the Khorfakkan Club for the Disabled.
■ Full results of the UAE delegation at the Malta National Games 2024
Athletics
Ali Al-Masmari – Gold in 100m, Gold in 200m, and Bronze in 4x100m Relay.
Zayed Al Junaibi – Bronze medal in 4x100m relay, fourth place in 100m run.
Kholoud Al-Khoury – Silver in 100m, Bronze in 4x100m Relay, Fourth place in 200m, Fourth place in 400m.
Amana Askar – Silver in the standing long jump, sixth place in the 100m run, and bronze in the 4x100m relay.
table tennis
Qais Al Qubaisi – Gold.
Faisal Al Marzouqi – Silver.
Salma Al Salami – Silver.
Amira Hassan – Bronze.
Qais Al Qubaisi and Faisal Al Marzouqi – Silver in Doubles.
Salma Al Salami and Amira Hassan – Fifth place in doubles.
Swimming
Omar Al Shami – Gold in 25m Butterfly, and Silver in 100m Freestyle.
Mohammed Al-Zubaidi – Bronze in 50m Freestyle, and fourth place in 50m Butterfly.
soccer
The team won the gold medal, and includes: Noah Al Suwaidi, Ahmed Al Balushi, Abdullah Al Suwaidi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Abu Bakr Al Jilani, Salem Mohammed, Musa Al Balushi, and Salem Al Mazrouei.
Bocce
Ghalia Abdullah and Shaima Saeed – Fourth place in doubles.
., and the latest political and economic developments via Google News
