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Bahrain’s Paralympics team is gearing up to take centre-stage later this month and its most veteran player aims to hit the bulls-eye at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games.
Bahraini Ahmed Abbas Meshaima will be competing in the Javelin Throw (F38) category when the Paralympic Games kick off on August 24, and hopes to secure another medal for Bahrain.
“I’m looking forward to setting a new record this year in the javelin-throwing competition,” the 38-year-old told GulfWeekly. “I’m incredibly proud to represent Bahrain internationally in this tournament and looking forward to elevating the stature of our paralympic athletes around the world.”
In 2004, Meshaima competed in three competitions in Athens and brought home a silver medal in the shot put.
He went on to compete in Beijing in 2008 in shot put and javelin and qualified for the shot put and discus throw event in 2012.
Not letting cerebral palsy define him, Meshaima has been one of the most consistent and recognisable figures amongst paralympic athletes in the kingdom, since he started training at the age of 17.
With more than two decades of athletic experience, this year, Meshaima will once again bid for gold in the javelin contest.
The javelin throw is a track-and-field event where the javelin, a spear about 2.5m in length, is thrown by the competitor, who gains momentum by running within a predetermined area.
In addition to ensuring his peak performance level in Tokyo, Meshaima has also been an avid advocate of para athletes in the kingdom.
Meshaima has also been recognised with His Majesty the King’s Medal for Competence in appreciation of his achievements as a para athlete.
He now works with his coach Eman Hasan and Hassan Moftah, who together follow up on Al Meshaima’s mental and therapeutic exercises, as well as his strengthening and skill exercises.
“My training regiment includes strengthening exercises, skill and mental exercises, in addition to a complete nutritional programme and an integrated treatment to reach my highest level of performance,” he added.
“Coach Moftah is my role model, with his accomplishments in athletics.
“My biggest challenge right now is the co-ordination between work and sports because the training programme is throughout the year full of overseas participations, training camps, morning and evening training sessions, and this can be very stressful.”
With the International Paralympic Games on the horizon and the Asian Paralympic Games scheduled for December, Meshaima is excited to see the increased interest and support from across the kingdom in the lead up to the events.
Bahrain has been coming together to support the delegation at the 2020 Paralympic Games which will be comprised of Meshaima and Bahraini discus thrower Ruba Al Omari.
Toyota Bahrain, powered by Ebrahim Khalil Kanoo (EKK), officially partnered with the Bahrain Paralympic Committee (BPC), to support the two para athletes on their bid for international glory.
For more details and to follow Al Mushaima’s progress, follow @bahrainnpc on Instagram.
