United Arab Emirates: Meet an Emirati double amputee who excels in Paralympic shooting

For Emirati Ayesha Al Shamsi, shooting was something she really enjoyed in her favorite video game, Call of Duty. However, when the double amputee got the chance to try it out in real life, she didn’t think twice and left a lasting impression in Paralympic shooting.

In August this year, Ayesha was part of the UAE Paralympics team in Paris, taking part in the competition for the second time after Tokyo 2021.

“Every time I pull the trigger and my shot hits its target, I feel a surge of excitement,” she said Khaleej Times. Ayesha was a special guest at the Dubai Police stand at the sixth edition of the AccessAbilities Expo, which began in the emirate on Monday. “When I fail to achieve a perfect result, I think about it constantly and cannot rest until I correct my mistakes.”

Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp channels.

The 40-year-old said she is blessed to have the opportunities she has. “I want to tell people not to apologize, that I don’t have the talent or the time,” she said. “No matter what you have or don’t have, your attitude is the most important thing. If you have the right attitude, you can turn any dream into reality.”

The AccessAbilities Expo is the largest exhibition for people of purpose in the Middle East, providing a platform to showcase unique solutions to improve the lives of people with special needs.

She trains for more than two hours every day at the Dubai Center for Determined People, perfecting her aiming and shooting. “I dream of being the best shooter in the world and winning lots of medals,” she said.

Special wheelchair

This year she competed with a special wheelchair designed and manufactured entirely in the United Arab Emirates.

“We had a special team at Dubai Police that took into account their needs during the shooting,” said First Warrant Officer Mohammed Hussain. “We adjusted the height of the rifle and added some additional hardware to ensure she could get the most out of it.”

The officer showed the trigger ring that Ayesha uses with her foot to shoot. “I used to pull it with my mouth,” she said. “Then I found a way to pull it with my toe.”

The wheelchair has a height-adjustable rifle holder and is designed for easy transport. The length of the trigger has been adjusted so that it easily reaches Ayesha’s toes.

“This is the second iteration of the wheelchair we have made,” Mohammed said. “The first one was manual, but this one is electronic. We also fixed some other details on this wheelchair.”

READ ALSO:

Nasreen Abdulla

Nasreen Abdulla is a special correspondent covering food, technology and human interest stories. When she’s not being challenged by deadlines, she can be found making submissions on the Jiu-Jitsu mats.

[email protected]