The International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) World Games concluded in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE) with a final flourish as record fell on the athletics field on Saturday (16 February).

The games have taken place over six days, featuring more than 500 athletes from 50 countries competing in seven sports – athletics, swimming, archery, badminton, shooting, table tennis and wheelchair fencing.

Full results are available at the IWAS website.

Athletics

South Africa’s Simone Kruger won gold with a new African record in the women’s discus F/3738/44/46.

Her throw of 31.77m (960 points) broke the F38 record of teammate Roxanne Burns from 2005.

Norway’s Ida Nesse, a T44 athlete, was second with a throw of 30.16m (683 points). Eva Datinska of Czech Republic (24.44m, 573 points) was third.

Croatia’s Ivan Katanusic threw his way to gold in the men’s discus F42/43/44/62/63/64.

Katanusic’s fourth attempt of 57.15m (974 points) was the difference between him and his competitors, and established a European record.

Sweden’s Mohammad Al-Joburi (34.73m, 623 points) was second followed by India’s Surjeet Singh (30.62m, 439 points).

Greece’s Ioannis Sevdikalis established a new F62 world record lower down the field with a 26.08m throw.

Algeria’s Mounia Gasmi (11.57m, 918 points) topped the podium in the women’s discus F32/33/54. The UAE’s Aishah Salem Alkhaaldi (12.15m, 832 points) took the silver as well as a new F33 Asian record. India’s Sadhana Mallick (13.45m, 671 points) was third.

The UAE’s Noura Alktebi established a new F32 Asian record of 8.76m despite just finishing off the podium.

The hosts enjoyed double podium success after Mohammed Al Kaabi (38.37m, 887 points) and Abbad Abbad Ali (38.70m, 595 points) grabbed gold and silver, respectively in the men’s discus F35/3637/46. The Czech Republic’s Michal Pallag (33.34m, 381 points) was third.

On the track, the men’s 100m T54 delivered gold for Saudi Arabia. Jamaan Alzahrani crossed the line in 14.88 seconds for gold, followed by Thailand’s Putharet Khongrak (15.38 seconds). Bronze went to Canada’s Isaiah Christophe (15.50 seconds).

Khongrak went one better in the 800m, bagging 907 points to top the podium. Paeyo (866 points) also made it onto the podium again with silver. Germany’s Alhassane Balde (741 points) rounded off the top three.

The men’s T53 dash saw Thailand’s Pongsakorm Paeyo take the tape in 15.75 seconds to seal gold. Saudi Arabia’s Fahad Algnaidl (16.02 seconds) secured silver with teammate Abdulrahmen Alqurashi (16.12 seconds) just behind for bronze.

The UAE topped the final athletics medal table with 15 golds, 18 silver and 14 bronze. Algeria were second with 14 golds, seven silver and two bronze. Thailand finished third with 11 golds, 14 silver and five bronze.

All records are subject to ratification by World Para Athletics.

Wheelchair fencing

The under 23 World Championships concluded competition on the piste in Sharjah.

Both of the foil events went to Russian fencers.

In the women’s category A 18-year-old Alena Evdokimova, the women’s under 17 world champion from 2018, enjoyed her first title from the older age group.

Taking on Turkey’s Elke Lale Van Achterberg, Evdokimova kept her cool to win 15-5.

However Van Achterberg will be pleased with her silver medal – her best result from the under-23s in the foil.

There was then a re-match between Evdokimova and Van Achterberg in the women’s epee category A. Evdokimova was victorious once again, winning 15-6.

Russia’s Asia Dzhimieva and the USA’s Shelby Jensen were third.

Thailand’s Atittaya Chookerd and Georgia’s Nino Tibiashvili took bronze.

In the men’s foil category A, technical issues plagued Germany’s Julius Haupt in his match against Russia’s Maxim Shaburov.

Haupt was on a roll before repeated problems with his weapon disrupted his rhythm and Shaburov was able to come back to win 15-10.  The win is Shaburov’s second at this edition of the youth Worlds following on from his sabre gold from Thursday (14 February).

Russia’s Oleg Gavrilenkov claimed bronze alongside Ukraine’s Maksym Mahula.

In the men’s epee category A Shaburov was the victor once again. This time he took on Mahula in the final and won 15-6.

Maurice Schmidt and Nikita Trofimov were the bronze medallists.

Swimming

India won three out of six golds on offer in the pool on the closing day, topping the medals table in the sport with 10 golds, eight silver and nine bronze overall.

Narayan Suyash Jadhav (534 points) triumphed in the men’s 200m individual medley for lower class swimmers. Thailand’s Eakapan Songwichean (324 points) was second and his compatriot Natthaphong Wiprajong (309 points) was third.

India also took gold in the higher class men’s 200m individual medley for SM8-SM10 swimmers.

Chetan Giridhar Raut (419 points) led two of his teammates onto the podium. Punith Nandakumar (410 points) claimed silver. Afrid Mukhatar (395 points) rounded off the top three.

Nandakumar also won the men’s 50m butterfly earlier in the session with 399 points. Thailand’s Patchara Singhmanon (389 points) sealed silver ahead of Mukhatar (303 points) with bronze.

Estonia grabbed two more golds to end the competition in second place in the medals table with 10 golds and one bronze.

Matz Topkin (578 points) was the victor in the men’s 50m butterfly for lower class athletes. Jadhav (540 points) left with silver and Songwichean (469 points) took bronze.

Susannah Kaul (571 points) touched in first in the women’s 200m individual medley. Thai teammates Monruedee Kangpila (434 points) and Panisa Vipod (223 points) were second and third respectively.

Kangpila also won the women’s 50m butterfly with 379 points followed by compatriot Prakaithip Chaiwong (249 points). Thailand were third in the medals table with nine golds, 15 silver and 10 bronze.

Archery

Ouk Soo Lee continued South Korea’s success at the IWAS World Games 2019 in the men’s compound open. He finished ahead of Sun Kil Go who edged Hyun Ju Kweon into bronze.

In the men’s W1 South Korea swept the board. Hong Jo Park took the title ahead of Dong Sub Koo.

The women’s recurve open was led by India’s Pooja Pooja with Thailand’s Wasana Khutawisab claiming silver.

The men’s recurve open saw victory for Thailand courtesy of Manreuchai Netsiri. South Korea’s Geonhwi Kwak took the silver and Boonvarit Chaipoon secured bronze and another podium finish for Thailand.