Hasnaa Al-Najm Clinches Double Gold for Saudi Arabia at Dubai 2024 Para Powerlifting World Cup

The flag of Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The flag of Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Hasnaa Al-Najm Clinches Double Gold for Saudi Arabia at Dubai 2024 Para Powerlifting World Cup

The flag of Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The flag of Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Paralympic powerlifter Hasnaa Al-Najm clinched two gold medals in the Women's up to 73kg category at the 2024 Para Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, excelling in both the single and combined bodyweight events, SPA said on Monday.
This captivating competition serves as a crucial qualification pathway for the eagerly awaited Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, and Al-Najm's exceptional performance firmly positions her in the spotlight.
Al-Najm, undeterred by her international debut, exuded happiness and pride as she celebrated her monumental achievement.
She acknowledged the unwavering support received from the Saudi Arabian Weightlifting and Bodybuilding Federation, the coaching staff, and the dedicated team management throughout the training camps and the exhilarating tournament.



‘Flooding Rains’ Threaten to Dampen Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

Paris 2024 Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Paris, France - July 26, 2024. Spectators are seen behind the Eiffel Tower ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Reuters)
Paris 2024 Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Paris, France - July 26, 2024. Spectators are seen behind the Eiffel Tower ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Reuters)
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‘Flooding Rains’ Threaten to Dampen Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

Paris 2024 Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Paris, France - July 26, 2024. Spectators are seen behind the Eiffel Tower ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Reuters)
Paris 2024 Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Paris, France - July 26, 2024. Spectators are seen behind the Eiffel Tower ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Reuters)

The Paris Olympics look likely to get off to a soggy start.

Meteo-France, the French weather service, is predicting “flooding rains” Friday evening when the opening ceremony is set to unroll along the Seine River. But the show is set to go on as planned, starting at 1:30 p.m. EDT/7:30 p.m. CEST and should last more than three hours.

Already in the late afternoon, skies were gray with intermittent drizzle. There was a silver lining, though, with temperatures expected to stay relatively warm throughout the evening.

Instead of a traditional march into a stadium, about 6,800 athletes will parade on more than 90 boats on the Seine River for 6 kilometers (3.7 miles). Though 10,700 athletes are expected to compete at these Olympics, hundreds of soccer players are based outside Paris, surfers are in Tahiti and many have yet to arrive for their events in the second week, organizers said Thursday.

Hundreds of thousands of people, including 320,000 paying and invited ticket-holders, are expected to line the Seine’s banks as athletes are paraded along the river on boats.