Emirati athlete Mansour Ali Al Qassab, 16, has confirmed his talent in powerlifting after winning a bronze medal in his first international appearance. He secured the medal in the 80kg category with a lift of 79kg at the Asian Youth Para Games, which concluded in Dubai last Sunday with 1,500 athletes from 35 countries participating. Al Qassab told 'Emirates Today': 'I achieved my dream of reaching the podium in my first international appearance by winning the bronze medal in the 80kg category with a lift of 79kg.' He added: 'I joined Dubai Club for People of Determination in 2016 with the support of my family, alongside my sister Mroua and brother Maith, who have also succeeded in representing the national teams.' Al Qassab's journey in sports began with track and field, but his physical strength paved the way for him to transition to powerlifting two years ago. He emphasized that the support from his family, the club, and the UAE Paralympic Committee motivated him to accept the challenge in a sport for the strong. His ambitions are to represent the country in future Paralympic Games and bring more achievements to Emirati para-sports. His mother, Fuzia Hassan Al Balushi, stated: 'I have five sons, three of whom have determination. I made sure to enroll them in the Dubai Club for People of Determination from a young age, believing that sports are an effective means of accelerating their social integration.' She highlighted that encouraging her children to practice para-sports from an early age yielded positive results, not only in breaking down barriers of disability but also in helping them to excel.
