UAE qualify for Asian Paralympics

The UAE coach has promised to work even harder after the hosts secured third place in the Sixth Fazza International Wheelchair Basketball Championship to qualify for this year's Incheon Paralympic Games. The UAE team trounced Saudi Arabia 71-44 in third place play-off, to qualify for the 2014 Incheon Asian Paralympic Games to be held in South Korea in October. Kuwait dethroned reigning champions Iraq 42-41 to secure the title at the Sixth Fazza International Wheelchair Basketball Championship last week. The Sixth Fazza International Wheelchair Basketball was also the IWBF West Asian Championship and was held at the Al Ahli Club's indoor hall last week. The UAE will be joined by Kuwait and Iraq as the three teams qualifying to Incheon. Thani Juma Berregad, Chairman, Dubai Club for the Disabled and head of the organising committee was joined by Abdullah Hamdan Bin Dalmook, CEO, Hamdan Bin Mohammad Heritage Centre at the presentation after the tournament. "We have the next few months and we will dedicate these to getting better by working even harder before the Paralympic Games in South Korea,” UAE coach Ahmad Jasem said. "We dedicate this win to the leaders of the UAE, in particular to Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman, Dubai Sports Council for taking a personal interest in the team. "We are eagerly looking forward to the Asian Paralympic Games in Incheon and hard work is all we promise during the build-up,” he added. Eight teams, including Oman, Kuwait, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia played in this tournament that was organised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammad Heritage Centre and the Dubai Club for the Disabled. Source: Gulf News