Iran ranks first in IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championships

Iranian Paralympian athletes have stood atop the podium in the 2016 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics Asia-Oceania Championships in the United Arab Emirates.

On Saturday, Iran’s Alireza Mokhtari Hemami vied for the top honor in the men’s discus throw F51-53 category at the Dubai Police Club Stadium, and managed to pocket the gold medal with a throw of 22.71 meters.

Indian competitor Amit Kumar Kumar threw 9.87 meters to receive the silver. Sausi Arabia snatched the bronze in this category.

In the men’s javelin throw F11-13 division, Iranian Nour Mohammad Arekhi recorded 42.09 meters and bagged the silver medal.

Zhu Pengkai, a representative from China, threw 57.69 meters to steal the show and be awarded the gold medal.

Chinese Taipei’s Chiang Chih-Chung also settled for bronze with a throw of 51.49 meters.

Also on Saturday, Iran’s 22-year-old athlete Arash Khosravi clocked 24.64 seconds in the men’s 200m T11 class to claim the gold medal.

Indonesian sportsman Abdul Halim Dalimunte received the silver medal with a time of 25.53 seconds, and Suphachai Songphinit from Thailand earned the bronze.

Additionally, Ahmad Ojaghlou participated in the men’s 400m T47 competitions, and registered a time of 50.09 second to clinch the gold medal.

India’s Sandeep Singh Singh and Pradeep Uggl Dena Pathirannehelage clocked 50.67 and 51.12 seconds, and earned the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Also in the men’s shot put F42/44 discipline, Iran’s 48-year-old athlete Mahdi Asghari won the gold medal with his best attempt of 11.60 meters.

Indian sportsman Santhamuthuvel Kesavan received the silver medal with a throw of 11.84 meters, and Ali al-Bishi from Saudi Arabia earned the bronze with 10.73 meters.

Additionally, Ali Elahi picked up a gold medal for the Islamic Republic of Iran in the men’s 1,500m T13 class with 4:20.36 minutes.

Iran topped the medal count table with a total of 40 (23 golds, ten silvers and seven bronzes), and China stood second with 30 (16 gold medals, 9 silvers and five bronzes).

India finished in the third spot, having collected twelve gold, ten silver and nine bronze medals.

The 2016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championships began in Dubai, the UAE, on March 6, and finished on March 12.

The tournament brought together about 300 athletes from almost 30 countries.

A total of 29 athletes, 23 sportsmen and six sportswomen, represented the Islamic Republic of Iran at the 2016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championships.

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