Mira Mansur Khaddam, only 14 years old, has managed to open a new page in the sports history of people with disabilities in the UAE. She became the first Emirati girl to participate in competitions in track and field athletics on special tracks for the disabled within the "International Fazaa Tournament."
Mira took sixth place in the 100-meter race at competitions that concluded last week at a Dubai club for people with disabilities. In an interview for the newspaper "Emirates Today," she shared: "The support of my parents allowed me to overcome fear, problems with my spinal cord, start training at the Dubai club for people with disabilities at the age of eight, engage in cycling, and accept challenges to participate in various sports, gradually transitioning to track and field competitions."
She continued: "The support of my parents and the opportunities of the club, which represents the best in the world of sports infrastructure and trainers, helped open my talent in athletics, attracted me to participate in Grand Prix competitions, where I became the first Emirati girl to line up at the start of these competitions."
Mira expressed confidence that the real wealth lives inside a person, and that hidden perseverance in training can transform a dream into success. She also mentioned that the Tunisian Paralympic champion Walid Katila serves as a key example for her in competitions on special tracks for the disabled.
The father of Mira, Mansur Khaddam, expressed pride in his daughter's achievements and noted that her friends and support at the Dubai club for people with disabilities allowed her to start her sports journey. The mother of Mira, Amina Maghrib, also expressed pride in her daughter's successes, emphasizing her ability to combine study in the ninth grade with serious training.
For Mira, this is just the beginning, and she intends to continue training, acquiring skills for gaining additional experience that will help her realize her dream and raise the UAE flag at major international arenas.
