Take a bow, Hamda Al Hosani.
Well, this is one worth celebrating. An Emirati sprinter has just won gold in the 100 metres at the Special Olymics Games in Abu Dhabi.
Hamda Al Hosani’s win brings the UAE team’s total medals to 17 – pretty impressive considering the games aren’t over until March 22.
The 29-year-old already has her eyes on the next prize, saying “I’m now looking forward to the 4x100m meter relay race on Tuesday.”
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Al Hosani was chased to the finish line by Bahrain’s Aysha Alsubei, who came in a close second. The two sprinters also took first and second in the 200m race, with Alsubei winning gold there.
“Racing against the Bahrain team, the winner doesn’t matter — it’s a win for the Gulf,” said Al Hosani’s mother, Zaafaran.
Al Hosani is dedicated to her sport, training two hours a day and encouraging others to get involved. She wants to change how people think about intellectual disabilities.
“In the Middle East people look at ID as a bad thing but I want to change that negative perception… I’d like to encourage everyone with intellectual disabilities (ID) to look out for what they’re interested in and to do more activities that boost their confidence.”
Getting involved in athletics has only been positive for Hamda, Zaafaran said.
“It has given Hamda a lot of confidence and allowed her to meet new people and forge friendships with people from all over the world… [she] is now a much stronger person than ever.”
This regional Special Olympics event is the regional forerunner to next year’s Special Olympics World Games, which will also be held in Abu Dhabi.
Record numbers of women are participating in this year’s games, with a full 40 per cent of athletes being female.
That’s got to be a good thing. Good luck for next race, Al Hosani.
Images: Supplied, Special Olympics MENA/Instagram
