14-year old British national Maria Lyle wins gold in 100m races

Dubai, 25 February, 2014: Young women athletes grabbed the limelight on day 3 of the 6th Fazza International Athletics IPC Grand Prix Competition 2014 at the Al Thiqa Club in Sharjah.

14-year old British national Maria Lyle who had earlier set a new European and world record in the 200m track races won gold in the 100m category. Thrilled by her debut performance at the Fazza Championships in the UAE she said: “I have been to competitions in the UK, but this is my first international championship and it feels great to be here. I have been an athlete for 2 years now and it is encouraging to win gold on my first overseas competition.”

21-year old Tunisian paralympian Neda Bahi who has won gold and bronze for her country at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London bagged bronze in the 100m races at this series of the Grand Prix. Neda has so far won gold in the long jump and silver in the 400m and 200m races, taking her total tally of medals in this Championship to 4.

With a team of 15 athletes, Tunisia is currently in the lead with the maximum number of medals in the Championship so far.

Mohammed Yahya, Captain of the Tunisian team said: “Tunisia has always participated in the Fazza Championships and athletics receives a lot of support from the Tunisian government which has led to Tunisia producing several Olympians and paralympians.

Tunisian Paralympian Walid Ktila who has won 3 international Paralympic titles set a new African and world record in the 200m wheelchair race at this Championship.

Mohammed added: “We are proud of our young athletes and look forward to the 2015 IPC World Athletics Championships in Doha and the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016.”

Ahmed Al Hamadi, head of the technical committee, Fazza Championships commented: “The Grand Prix has progressed well so far and athletes have adjusted to the new rules of the competition quite successfully, particularly in the wheelchair races. The Grand Prix has given the Fazza Championships an international appeal and we are thrilled to host such a highly competitive group of athletes.”

The 6th Fazza Athletics IPC Grand Prix Competition 2014 is being organised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and will culminate in the finals in the UK.

Participating Countries:
Tunisia; Slovakia; Nigeria; Greece; Saudi Arabia; Mexico; Japan; Scotland;  Great Britain; Algeria; Iraq; Azerbaijan; Germany; Bulgaria; Kazakhstan; Egypt; Kuwait; Qatar; Russia; Bahrain; Sweden; Thailand; Ireland; Brazil; Cameroon; Denmark; Jordan; Lithuania; Netherlands; Switzerland; Hong Kong; Gambia; India; Oman; Syria; Mauritius  and host nation the United Arab Emirates.