The Tokyo Paralympics is under way and there is a lot more action in store on the second day of the Games.
Below are all the Mena athletes who will be fighting it out on Thursday.
Equestrian
Equestrian Park
Saudi Arabia’s Ahmed Sharbatly will be looking for a top eight finish in the Dressage Individual Test - Grade 5, and qualify for the Individual Freestyle Test. Sharbatly will no doubt be wanting to put the disappointment of Rio 2016 behind him, when he was forced to withdraw from the competition due to an injury to his horse.
Goalball
Makuhari Messe Hall
In the second day of the Goalball, Algeria’s men will be wanting to bounce back from their disappointing defeat against Japan, when they take on Lithuania.
Meanwhile, Israel’s women will want to carry forward the momentum from their opening win against Australia when they take on the team from Canada.
Egypt’s women will have their first match against Turkey.
Powerlifting
Tokyo International Forum
Mena para-athletes in every competition on the opening day of the powerlifting.
Double silver medallist, Omar Sami Qarada from Jordan will undoubtedly be seeking the top prize in the men’s -49kg final where he will be lifting against Hadj Ahmed Beyour of Algeria in a strong field.
Taha Abdelmajid of Egypt is back at the games after missing Rio. The London 2012 bronze medalist will be looking to make up for lost time when he lifts in the men’s -54kg final. Ali Al Darraji from Iraq will be among the contenders.
Noura Baddour from Syria, came in fourth in Rio, and so will absolutely be aiming for a place on the podium in her third Paralympic outing in the women’s -41kg final.
Algeria’s Samira Guerioua wasn’t far off a podium spot in Rio either, and she will be hoping to take home a medal in the final of the women’s -45kg class.
Swimming
Tokyo Aquatics Centre
Israel’s Ariel Malyar and Ami Dadaon will both be swimming in the same heat of the men’s 100m freestyle S4 class.
Table tennis
Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium
Jordan’s veteran ping-pong player Khetam Abu Awad will be taking on Israel’s Caroline Tabib in women’s singles class 5.
Egyptian Hanaa Hammad opens up her campaign against Maryna Lytovchecnko of Ukraine in the singles class 6.
Faten Elelimat of Jordan will be taking on Joyce de Oliviera of Brazil in the women’s single class 4.
Meanwhile in the men’s tournaments, Egypt's Ayman Zenaty's opener will be against Ali Ozturk of Turkey in single class 5, while compatriot Sayed Youssef will play Brazilian Israel Pereira Stroh in the single class 7.
Wheelchair Basketball
Various venues
Algeria and Iran are in the same preliminary group in the men’s wheelchair basketball. Algeria will be up against Great Britain, while the Iranians take on Australia.
Wheelchair Fencing
Makuhari Messe
Two great Iraqis to watch out for in the wheelchair fencing.
Rio silver medallist Ammar Ali will be aiming to go one better in the men’s epee individual - Category B, while compatriot, three-time world championship bronze medalist and fourth place finisher in Rio 2016, Zainulabdeen Al Madkhoori, has his eyes on the podium in the men’s epee individual - Category A.
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes. Portland is a 260 km drive from Seattle and Emirates offers codeshare flights to Portland with its partner Alaska Airlines.
The car
Hertz (www.hertz.ae) offers compact car rental from about $300 per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.
Parks and accommodation
For information on Crater Lake National Park, visit www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm . Because of the altitude, large parts of the park are closed in winter due to snow. While the park’s summer season is May 22-October 31, typically, the full loop of the Rim Drive is only possible from late July until the end of October. Entry costs $25 per car for a day. For accommodation, see www.travelcraterlake.com. For information on Umpqua Hot Springs, see www.fs.usda.gov and https://soakoregon.com/umpqua-hot-springs/. For Bend, see https://www.visitbend.com/.
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
Full list of brands available for Instagram Checkout
Adidas @adidaswomen
Anastasia Beverly Hills @anastasiabeverlyhills
Balmain @balmain
Burberry @burberry
ColourPop @colourpopcosmetics
Dior @dior
H&M @hm
Huda Beauty @hudabeautyshop
KKW @kkwbeauty
Kylie Cosmetics @kyliecosmetics
MAC Cosmetics @maccosmetics
Michael Kors @michaelkors
NARS @narsissist
Nike @niketraining & @nikewomen
NYX Cosmetics @nyxcosmetics
Oscar de la Renta @oscardelarenta
Ouai Hair @theouai
Outdoor Voices @outdoorvoices
Prada @prada
Revolve @revolve
Uniqlo @uniqlo
Warby Parker @warbyparker
Zara @zara
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Game is on BeIN Sports
Brolliology: A History of the Umbrella in Life and Literature
By Marion Rankine
Melville House
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
Mobile phone packages comparison
Empty Words
By Mario Levrero
(Coffee House Press)
Bharat
Director: Ali Abbas Zafar
Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
