Moroccan para-athlete Aymane El-Haddaoui advanced to the 400m (T47) final at the Paris Paralympic Games on Friday, having won the first qualifying heat at a time of 47.15 seconds.
El-Haddaoui finished ahead of South African competitor Collen Mahlalela, who finished in 48.65 seconds, and Indian runner Dilip Gavit, finishing in 49.54 seconds.
Defending champion Ayoub Sadni delivered a remarkable performance, surpassing the Paralympic record set just minutes earlier by his fellow competitor El-Haddaoui.
Sadni recorded a time of 46.98 seconds during the heats, thus establishing himself as the frontrunner in the event.
Brazil’s Thomaz Ruan de Moraes finished second in Sadni’s heat with a time of 48.68 seconds, followed by Luis Fernando Lara Rodallega of Colombia, in third place at 48.96 seconds.
The final 400m (T47) competition is scheduled for Saturday at 8:00 PM (Moroccan time).