Iran topped the IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championships medals table with a total of 23 gold, 10 silver and 7 bronze.
China finished runner-up with 16 gold, 9 silver and 5 bronze. India was third, Japan finished in fourth place and the UAE took the fifth spot.
Iran’s Ahmad Ojaghlou helped his country to finish top of the medals table at the IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championships on Saturday 12 March, as he completed a superb hat-trick of wins in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, with victory in the 400m T47.
The 28-year-old (50.09) has looked in terrific form over the course of the Championships and he gave it his all once again as India’s Sandeep Singh Singh (50.67) tried hard to catch the Iranian before he reached the line.
The win meant a third gold medal for Ojaghlou to add to his 100m and 200m T47 wins from earlier in the week – and he was suitably delighted.
“I am so happy I won three gold medals, I have the best times ever,” he said.
“I have such a happy feeling that my year of exercises has paid off. I did my best to have the best records here. I did that for my country, it was my duty. We all did our best to have the Iranian flag raised many times here!”
There were a further four gold medals for Iran on Saturday at the city’s Police Officer’s Club stadium:
Arash Khosravi notched up his second gold of the Championships with a spectacular finish in the men’s 200m T11. The 22-year-old was pushed hard all the way but just managed to pull clear of his rivals with less than 10m to go, stopping the clock in 24.64, Paralympic.org reported.
“I am happy to have two golds now. I worked so hard for this event and I am working very hard to get to Brazil,” he said.
“I really want to break the Asian record so I can go to Brazil. It is important for me to do well for Iran. Like any person I love my country and it is important for me to put the flag of my own country higher and higher.”
Ali Elahi (T12) won the men’s 1,500m T13 in 4:20.36, while out in the field Alireza Hemami Mokhtari (F53) won the men’s discus throw F51-53.
His best of 22.71m (843 points) meant another major championship title for the 38-year-old Asian Para Games champion as India’s discus throw F51 Asian record holder Amit Kumar Kumar – winner in the club throw on Wednesday (9 March) - had to make do with silver.
“I am proud for my country today and I hope to go to Rio and win two gold medals – God willing,’ said Mokhtari, who won silver in the shot put a day earlier.
Mahdi Asghari (T42) made it a total of 16 golds out in the field for Iran over the six days of competition as he won the shot put F42/44 with 11.60m (642 points).