swimmer from Uzbekistan, Fotimakhon Amilova, broke the world record in the women’s 200 meter individual medley SM13 to win the gold at the 2018 Asian Para Games at Gelora Bung Karno Aquatics Center on Tuesday.
S11, S12 and S13 are the categories for visually impaired swimmers. The lower the number, the more severe the visual impairment.
Fotimakhon, 19, showed a strong performance on Tuesday, finishing with a time of 2 minutes and 2 seconds, one second better than the record set previously by Italy’s Carlotta Gilli in August.
“We expected this result. Fotimakhon has been training for two years for this moment. We have been preparing very seriously, and have improved her skills and techniques, that’s why we can achieve this world record,” Uzbekistan national team coach and Fotimakhon’s father, Ravshanbek Amilov, told The Jakarta Post after the match.
Fotimakhon is on pace for a career year thanks to the Para Games. She broke on Monday the women’s 100 m freestyle S13 record with a time of 58 seconds. She has won two golds in swimming thus far.
“Our next target is the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics,” her father said.
Strong showings are to be expected from Fotimakhon, who was the first Uzbek swimmer to win a gold medal at a Paralympic Games when she placed first in the SB13 100 m breaststroke final in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
Fotimakhon has been swimming since 2009 in her hometown Andizhan, Uzbekistan. At this year’s Para Games, she will compete in seven individual races.
Fellow Uzbek athlete Norbekob Khusniddin also broke a world record with his 16.35-meter throw in the men’s shot put F35 event.
Khusniddin bested the decade-old record of 16.22 m set by Chinese athlete Wei Guo at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.
“I am happy to be able to break the world record in Jakarta,” Norbekob said on Monday.
After the Para Games, Norbekob will compete in his home country in the 2018 Championship Athletics.
“Hopefully I can keep improving on my personal achievements at home,” he added.
The silver medal was awarded to Javanmardi of Iran, while Fu Xinhan of China won the bronze.
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