As Ahmed Mohammed Saif Al Badwawi prepares to compete in his inaugural Paralympics, the Para cyclist aims to boost the sport's popularity in the UAE through a standout performance in Paris. Al Badwawi will be the second cyclist from the UAE to compete in the Paralympic Games, participating in the men’s individual Road Time Trial in Clichy-sous-Bois, a suburb of Paris, France. The UAE made its historic debut in Para cycling at Tokyo 2020 when Ahmad Al Mansoori secured 14th place in the men's C2 time trial. Following this, the UAE Cycling Federation has focused on training young athletes to adapt to various weather conditions and master race strategies for future Games.
Al Badwawi, a trainee at the Dubai Club for People of Determination, credits Al Mansoori’s determination and strength at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics for inspiring him to take up the sport in 2020. “Seeing Al Mansoori compete at the Paralympics in Tokyo motivated me to work diligently with my teammates and accumulate enough points to secure the qualification slot for the UAE,” said Al Badwawi, who has been training in Italy and Spain for over a month before heading to France. Over the past few years, the young Para cyclist has demonstrated promising results, winning gold and silver medals consecutively in the Arab Championship. He has also gained ranking points through his performances at various world and continental championships, enhancing his qualification prospects.
The bronze medal at the Asian Road Para Cycling Championship in Kazakhstan in June 2024 significantly boosted his confidence and Paris 2024 qualification chances. “In Paris, my objective is to perform well and gain valuable experience. I aim to popularize Para cycling in the UAE,” Al Badwawi stated. He will join five shooters and six track and field Para athletes in the UAE team for the Paris 2024 Games. The Para cycling road events commence in Paris on September 4.
