China's Mei Ting shines at Special Olympics World Summer Games

World
Europe

Chinese youngster Mei Ting stood out in track and field event of the ongoing 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates by winning one gold and one silver medal in sprinting events at Zayed Sports City Stadium on Sunday.

Wearing the red and yellow Chinese colors, the 11-year-old girl came second in the 25-meter dash in 6.09 seconds as Azerbaijan's Nigar Mustafayeva finished 0.12 seconds ahead of Mei to win gold.

However, in the afternoon's 50-meter dash final, Mei surged ahead on the outside to cross the line in just 11 seconds, outpacing Mustafayeva by 0.01 seconds to win the coveted gold medal.

On the men's side, Kirk Wint from Jamaica was quite a star for his amazing grit and gumption. The specially-abled sprinter from Usain Bolt's country competed in the men's 50-meter dash. But the 17-year-old, who has both an intellectual and physical disability, was still able to win silver in 15.06 seconds with Trinidad & Tobago's Israel Malik Duncan claiming gold in 14.65 seconds.

The Special Olympics World Summer Games is a multi-sport event for athletes with intellectual disabilities in the tradition of the Special Olympics movement.

(Top image by Du Chenxin)