UAE’s Ayesha Al Mehairi aims for top 8 finish in her second Paralympics

Ayesha Al Mehairi, the first Emirati woman to qualify for the Paralympics at Tokyo 2020, is preparing for her second appearance at the Paris 2024 Games, where she will compete in the R4 – 10m air rifle standing SH2 and R5 – 10m air rifle prone SH2 events.

Al Mehairi, a rifle Para shooter trained at the Dubai Club for People of Determination, will be among five shooters representing the UAE at the Shooting Para Sport competitions, held at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre near Paris later this month.

With a strong focus on self-belief and determination, the 48-year-old shooter, a mother of five, expressed her goal of finishing in the top eight in Paris.

Reflecting on her experience at Tokyo 2020, where she was still new to the sport, Al Mehairi noted that the competition was primarily about gaining experience and learning to control her emotions and breathing under pressure.

Al Mehairi’s road to the Paralympics

Al Mehairi’s journey in Shooting Para Sport began just six months before qualifying for Tokyo, with her qualifications secured in Peru. She earned her quota for Paris at the Lima 2023 World Championships.

Previously a Boccia player, Al Mehairi found the transition to Shooting Para Sport in 2019 to be smooth, describing it as a sport where she could challenge herself. “It’s only me and the target,” she said, emphasising her connection to the sport, which she feels is inherently Emirati.

Over the past five years, Al Mehairi has claimed four international medals, including one gold, two silver, and one bronze in World Cups held in France (Chateauroux) and the UAE (Al Ain).

Despite the challenges faced by athletes on wheelchairs, such as long flights and rigorous training, Al Mehairi praised the support provided by the Dubai Club for People of Determination and the wider UAE community.

She acknowledged the growing awareness of the difficulties faced by people with impairments, attributing this to digital media and government initiatives that have facilitated the rise of Para athletes in the UAE.

As she makes her final preparations for Paris 2024 in Turkey, Al Mehairi shared her secret to achieving her goals: a carefully planned schedule that she follows to reach her objectives.

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