The 5th Fazza International Athletics Championships saw its first new world record today when 15-year-old Scott Jones of Great Britain stunned the field in the men’s discus wheelchair final, while UAE got its first gold of the week through Abdulaziz Al Shekaili.
Jones, who used to initially compete in able-bodied shot put and discus events before he suffered stroke-like symptoms three years ago which caused his injury, obliterated the competition with a 25.05m throw in the discus F32/52-54. His closest competitor, Algeria’s Karim Bettina, threw 16.73m and the young Brit admits he did not expect to set a new world record in Dubai.
“It’s different, when I competed I didn’t expect to get a world record and it still hasn’t really settled in,” Jones told Sport360 after receiving his gold medal. “I’m thrilled with this record. I did not expect it.
“I’ve been competing for about three years now. I used to compete before I had my injury and now afterwards I’ve been doing disability sport for two and half years.”
Jones had qualified for the London Paralympic Games last year but was not called up for the team because at 14 years of age, was considered too young to compete. He now has his eyes on the IPC World Athletics Championships in Lyon this summer, and the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
“The aim now is hopefully to go to the World Championships and hopefully for a medal there,” he said.
Jones’ last event in Dubai will be the F32 shot put event today. “It’s my first time here. It’s very grand. It’s a lot different to London and the places I’ve been before, it’s completely different and I’m really enjoying it,” Jones added.
The teenager from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire believes the newly-introduced IPC Athletics Grand Prix Series will help raise the awareness of disability sports around the world.
He said: “I think it’s a good idea. It’s getting more people aware of disability sports. After the Paralympics in London people in my country are starting to get more aware of disability and I think this series will do that in the whole world as well.”
Meanwhile, UAE’s Alshekaili of the Al Ain Club for the Disabled got the first gold for the hosts in the shot put wheelchair F33 event ahead of his countryman Ahmed Alhousani, who took the silver.
Egypt’s Raed Salem – a bronze medallist in London last year – won the gold in the F57/58 javelin wheelchair competition with a remarkable 45.22m throw to triumph ahead of four-time Paralympic gold medallist Alexey Ashapatov.
Reigning double Paralympic champion Walid Ktila of Tunisia also topped the podium in one of his signature events – the 100m T34.
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