Jordan's Qarada strikes gold in Fazza World Para Powerlifting World Cup

Omar's first successful lift of 162kg was enough to secure him victory

Jordan's Omar Sami Hamadeh Qaradah won the first gold medal of the 8th Fazza World Para Powerlifting World Cup Dubai 2017 in the Senior Men's Under 49kg weight class on the opening day of competition at the Dubai Club for the physically challenged on Monday.
Held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council (DSC), it is being organised and supervised by the Dubai Club with the support of their strategic partners Dubai Sports Council, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare (GAYSW), and the UAE Paralympic Committee with the participation of 194 athletes from 33 countries.
Kazakhstan's Zakhar Buimov won the second medal on offer in the Junior Men's Under 49kg evet with a lift of 70kg.
Two-time Paralympic silver medallist in 2008 and Rio Games last year, 35 year-old Omar's first successful lift of 162kg was enough to secure him victory in the Dubai World Cup event by a huge margin of 14kg from his nearest rival.
A former world champion, Omar did not succeed to lift 167kg in his next two attempts but was pleased with his gold-medal winning performance for the second time in the Fazza World Para Powerlifting World Cup Dubai.
"I have won many international tournaments but I am eager to participate in Dubai every year. I managed to win gold because I trained hard for it. The best athletes have come to Dubai and we can see where we stand after this competition. I hope to inspire my fellow competitors in the Arab world to achieve good results," said Omar.
India's most accomplished Para Powerlifting champion Farman Basha who missed out on a podium at the Rio Games, secured the silver medal with his third lift of 148kgs edging out the bronze medallist in Rio Nador Tunkel (147kg) from Hungary.
"I am happy to beat the bronze medallist in Rio. It is great to win a medal in Dubai after the disappointment of Rio," said the 42 year-old from Bangalore who has been an inspiration to Indian para athletes and is now a coach.
Tunkel, a 28-year-old pocket dynamo, had successfully lifted 143kg and 147kg but failed in his attempt to go past Basha with a lift of 148kg much to the delight of the Indian delegation who are represented by 10 athletes, including two females.
"We are happy to be participating in this championship in Dubai. We don't feel like we are away from home. The organizers are treating us so well that we are feeling special and not athletes with disabilities," said Joginder Singh, an eight-time National Para Powerlifting champion who holds the distinction of being the first disabled athlete to join India's Centreal Reserve Police Force. Presently he works as a health consultant for fitness training at Delhi Development Authority.
The opening event saw contestants from Ukraine, Egypt, China, Kazakhstan, Japan, Armenia and Saudi Arabia, reflecting the universal diversity of the sport in Dubai.