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Join on Telegram Moroccan para runner Abdeslam Hili has won the gold medal in the men’s T12 400m, setting a new world record at the Tokyo Paralympics.
The 2019 world champion placed first after a “storming run” in the last 100m, allowing him to finish within 47.59 seconds, breaking his own world record of 47.79 seconds. Mahdi Afri, another Moroccan para runner participating in the race, came in fourth place in a time of 48.93 seconds.
American para-athlete Noah Malone finished second, setting a personal best time of 47.93 seconds. Tunisia’s Rouay Jebabli, meanwhile, claimed bronze.
This year’s Olympic gold medal is Abdeslam Hili’s second big achievement after his gold at the 2019 World Championship. The Paralympic champion has also stated that he likes to take challenges and compete with the best. “I love competition and this sport provides me with that,” he said in a statement in 2019.
In the T13 400m race, Morocco’s Mohamed Amguoun, who clinched the gold medal at Rio 2016, snatched silver this time with a time of 47.70 seconds. Algeria’s Skander Djamil Athmani came first, setting a new world record of 46.70. Namibia’s Johannes Nambala completed the podium with 48.76 seconds.
As of today, Morocco has won five medals in the ongoing games, after Youssra Karim’s silver and the bronzes of Hayat El Garaa and Saida Amoudi.
With less than three days until the end of the Tokyo Games, Morocco is still hoping for other medals to improve its tally.
The country bets on the 5-a-side football team scheduled to play Brazil in the semi-finals on September 2, and on Abdelaziz Nouiri who will represent the country in the shot put F34 final on September 4. Nouiri has dominated the gold medal of the event since London 2012, and he is the overwhelming favorite of this year’s games.
