Ahmad Al-Mutairi

RIO DE JANEIRO: Kuwait's Ahmad Al-Mutairi came first in the men's 100 m athletics race at the Rio 2016 Paralympics on Saturday, Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah announced. With this win in the competitions that started on Thursday, Mutairi, from the Kuwait Disabled Sport Club (KDSC), has made a national achievement for Kuwait at the international sports events, the minister told KUNA. Sheikh Salman congratulated HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on the gold medal secured by Mutairi.

HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah yesterday sent a cable to Mutairi lauding his victory, which reiterated that Kuwaiti youth, especially people with special needs, have the abilities to overcome all hardships and realize such historical achievements for Kuwaiti sports. HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent similar congratulatory cables to Mutairi.

National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem also addressed a cable to Mutairi, hailing the athlete for making a new achievement for national sports and lauded the national champions who "continue to place the name of Kuwait aloft at continental and international sports events." Besides Mutairi, the Kuwaiti squad to the event includes Mohammad Al-Odwani, Nasser Saleh, Mohammad Mejbel, Abdullah Al-Saif and Atef Al-Dousary. The Paralympic games are being held at the Maracana stadium from Sept 7-18. - KUNA