Qatar secured three medals on Tuesday at the 5th Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, underscoring a promising start for the nation’s athletes at the continental event. The Games, held from October 18 to 24, feature participation from 45 countries competing across 18 sports.
Qatari swimmer Shamil Shaheen earned two of the country’s medals, winning silver in the men’s 100m breaststroke (SB12 category) and bronze in the men’s 400m freestyle (S13 category). Shaheen finished second in the 100m breaststroke with a time of 1 minute and 13.17 seconds, narrowly behind Japan’s Genki Saito, who won gold in 1 minute and 12.74 seconds. Iran’s Abdi Karimi Jahan took bronze with a time of 1 minute and 13.47 seconds. In the 400m freestyle, Shaheen claimed bronze with a time of 4 minutes and 33.09 seconds. The event was won by Uzbekistan’s Dmitry Khurlin in 4 minutes and 21.32 seconds, with his compatriot Igor Bolotov securing silver at 4 minutes and 21.94 seconds.
In athletics, Ali Arsheed added a silver medal for Qatar in the men’s 100m wheelchair race (T34 category), finishing second with a time of 14.95 seconds. Thailand’s Chaiwat Ratana won the event, setting a new Games record of 14.84 seconds. The bronze medal went to Mohammed Othman of the United Arab Emirates, who completed the race in 15.13 seconds. Another Qatari athlete, Mohammed Al Kubaisi, participated in the same race and finished seventh with a time of 16.80 seconds.
Qatar’s delegation to the Games comprises 12 athletes competing in three sports: swimming, athletics, and goalball. The team aims to build on the initial success and continue bringing home medals throughout the tournament, reflecting the nation’s ongoing efforts to advance sports opportunities and performance for people with disabilities.
His Excellency Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Saud Al Thani, President of the Qatar Paralympic Committee, dedicated the athletes’ achievements to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar, and His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, acknowledging their steadfast support for disabled sports. Sheikh Abdulrahman also praised the athletes, along with the technical and administrative staff, for their dedication and teamwork, highlighting that these results symbolize Qatar’s growing prominence in para-sport on the continental and international stages.
He emphasized that the country’s continued backing of para-athletes will be crucial as Qatar aims to maintain strong performances in future competitions. The successes in Nagoya serve as motivation for further achievements and elevate the profile of Qatari para-sports globally.