In the women’s club F51 category, veteran para-athlete Ekta Bhyan set a record throw to qualify for the World Para Athletics Championships, and the Indian team brought home seven medals from the Dubai World Para Athletics Grand Prix.
The Indian contingent included several youngsters making their International debut in Dubai, clinched four silver and two bronze medals including Bhyan’s Asian record at the Dubai club for people of determination grounds.
China returned to International Competition after two years with a bang. It finished on top with 102 medals that included 42 gold medals, followed by Ukraine (11 golds) and Uzbekistan (9 golds). India finished in the 28th place.
Asian Para Games gold medalist Bhyan hurled the discus at 6.35 m in the fifth round to claim the bronze medal in women’s wheelchair discus F53 event, which was won by Ukraine’s Zoia Ovsii.
The 37-year-old athlete from Hisar then went on to set a new Asian record in women’s club F51 event despite finishing sixth with a throw of 23.88 meters.
Owing to her show in the Club throw event, Bhyan made the cut for the World Para Athletics Championship set to take place in Paris from 8 July this year.
“I am glad that with this performance, I could improve my world ranking and set a new Asian record. Though I was expecting a throw of 18 plus. Anyway I will work harder and perform better than this in the upcoming events,” she said.