Saudi Arabia’s Abdulrahman Al-Qurashi takes bronze in men’s 100m T53 final at Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Abdulrahman Al-Qurashi on Wednesday afternoon won the bronze medal in the men’s 100-meter T53 competition at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

The 23-year-old came third with a time of 14.76 seconds, behind gold medalist Pongsakorn Paeyo of Thailand, who posted a Paralympic record of 14.20 seconds, and Brent Lakatos of Canada who secured silver with a time of 14.55 seconds.

Al-Qurashi’s medal was Saudi Arabia’s first of the tournament. The country’s other participant in the final, Fahad Al-Junaidel, came seventh with time of 15.48 seconds.

The two Saudi athletes had qualified for the final of the men’s 100m T53 competition at Tokyo Olympic Stadium after both finishing second in their first-round heats on Wednesday morning.

In the first heat, Al-Junaidel, 36, qualified with a time of 15.08 seconds, coming in behind race winner Lakatos (14.49 seconds) and just ahead of Ariosvaldo Fernandes da Silva of Brazil (15.30 seconds).

Meanwhile, Al-Qurashi came second in heat two with a personal best time of 14.52 seconds, with Paeyo first over the line in 14.30 seconds, and Pierre Fairbank of France taking third place in 15.09 seconds.