Qatar’s Sara Masoud, the country’s first female Paralympic medallist, is aiming for a podium finish in women’s shot put at the Paris Paralympics today. Masoud made history by winning a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Games in the F33 class, finishing behind Algeria’s Asmahan Boudjadar with a distance of 5.39 meters. She hopes to upgrade her medal and bring home Qatar’s first-ever Paralympic gold medal. Following her success in Rio, Masoud also won a silver medal at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London and placed eighth at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai. At the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, she won a silver medal, showcasing her consistency as a top-class athlete.
Preparing for the competition in Paris, Masoud expressed her desire to win another Paralympic medal, acknowledging the tough competition she will face. Despite the challenging field of athletes, Masoud is ready for the event after undergoing intensive training ahead of the 2024 Paralympics. Her coach, Waleed Maghmoul, is confident in her abilities and believes she is well-prepared to compete for a podium finish. The reigning world champion in the F33 category, Gilda Cota Vera of Mexico, is a standout performer in today’s final, setting a record in the Para Athletics Worlds in Kobe, Japan. China’s Wu Qing and Neutral Para Athlete Svetlana Krivenok are also formidable contenders expected to challenge for the gold medal.
The F33 class includes athletes with moderate movement and coordination impairments across the body, particularly in the legs. They face challenges in throwing consistency due to balance and coordination issues. With the competition beginning at 8:40pm Qatar time, Masoud will need to compete against top athletes such as Cota Vera, Wu Qing, and Krivenok, as well as past gold medal winners Boudjadar, Joanna Oleksiuk (Poland), and Fouzia El Kassioui (Morocco) who all have personal bests over 7 meters. Despite the tough competition, Masoud is determined to give her best performance and aim for another Paralympic medal.
In conclusion, Sara Masoud’s journey from Qatar’s first female Paralympic medallist to a seasoned shot put athlete has been filled with success and challenges. With multiple medals and achievements under her belt, Masoud is determined to upgrade her silver medal from Rio to a gold at the Paris Paralympics. Despite facing tough competition from world-class athletes, Masoud and her coach are confident in her abilities and readiness to compete for a podium finish. The F33 class presents unique challenges with balance and coordination issues, requiring athletes to overcome obstacles to achieve throwing consistency. As the competition kicks off, all eyes will be on Masoud as she vies for another Paralympic medal and represents Qatar with pride on the international stage.
