Iranian female para-canoeist Shahla Behrouzi Rad says she is painstakingly preparing herself for the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and intends to collect a medal at the high-status international sporting event.
“I make no promises that I’d pick up a medal in Brazil. However, I can assure all that I will try hard because I really want to write my name in history and snatch Iran’s Paralymic medal in canoeing,” Behrouzi Rad said.
She added, “I have two significant events ahead. The first one is the 2016 ICF Paracanoe World Championships in Duisburg, Germany, between May 17 and 19, and another is the Paralympics in Brazil, which will be held next September.”
“The championships in Germany serve as a qualifying tournament for the Paralympics. A large number of canoeists will be in attendance, and will try to win a Paralympic berth. Nader Eyvazi and Eslam Jahedi will assess their chances to secure (Paralympics) quota places, but I will be participating (Germany tourney) to psychologically get ready for the Paralympics,” the Iranian Paralympian said.
On August 19, Behrouzi Rad won a Paralympic berth for the Islamic Republic in the final women’s KL2 200m competitions of the 2015 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships.
The 2015 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships was held on August 19-23 at the artificial Idroscalo lake in Milan, Italy.