It was proud moment for Mohammed
Youssef Othman as he claimed his first ever medal at a World Championships in
New Delhi recently.
In a thrilling men’s wheelchair
T34 race, the Dubai Club for People of Determination trainee Othman settled for
the bronze medal finishing behind Thailand’s Chaiwat Rattana and Rheed
McCracken of Australia.
The medal was not just an
indication of Othman’s rise but that UAE has got its new star in wheelchair
races after Mohammed Hammadi, the multiple-time Paralympic medallist and
three-time world champion.
“I trained hard for the World
Championships, for five months outside the Emirates, and the result in the 100m
race was good one, but my goal is to win the gold medal,” said Othman, adding
that his goal is to win a medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
Othman, at 20 years, was the
youngest sportsman on the UAE’s team at Paris 2024 Paralympics where he
finished fifth while he nearly missed the medal ending at fourth place at the
last World Championships in Kobe, Japan.
The Dubai Club for People of
Determination held a ceremony to honour the athlete for his achievement.
Thani Juma Berregad, Chairman of
the Club’s Executive Board, emphasised that this accomplishment is a result of
the wise leadership’s continued support for People of Determination, enabling
them to achieve their ambitions at all levels.
Berregad praised the great
efforts made by the player and his coach in reaching the podium at such a major
global event, noting that the Club values and appreciates the dedication of its
accomplished and distinguished athletes. He highlighted that their continued
pursuit of excellence and commitment to achieving new milestones reflect the
Club’s vision and approach toward sustained success.
He also encouraged the player to
multiply his efforts in future, which is of great importance in maintaining
this achievement and accomplishing further successes.
For his part, Executive Director
Majid Al Usaimi stated that this success reflects the great attention given by
the wise leadership to People of Determination, as well as the commitment of
His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of
the National Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, to
supporting this important segment of society.
He added that such support has
had a significant positive impact on the careers of UAE athletes, both male and
female.
Othman also affirmed that People
of Determination are fully capable of shouldering the responsibility of raising
the UAE flag at major international events.
His coach, Abdullah Al Mashrawi,
praised Mohammed Othman’s ‘hard work and commitment’, noting that the
achievement was the result of teamwork and a shared spirit of determination.
He added: “Mohammed Youssef is on
the right path towards achieving even greater success, in line with the Club’s
strategic vision”.
