Mohammed Khalaf won the UAE’s first gold medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympics on Tuesday when he took top spot in the men’s 88kg powerlifting competition.
The Emirati lifted 220 kilograms to triumph over Brazil’s Evanio da Silva (210kg) and Mongolia’s Sodnompiljee Enkhbayar (210kg) at the RioCentro Pavilion.
Pre-tournament favourites Ye Jixiong of China and Iran’s Seyedhamed Solhipouravanji of Iran both failed their three lifts.
[ sports@thenational.ae ]
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
Updated: September 13, 2016, 12:00 AM