Zhao sets new record as China top medal tally with 11 golds

Yuping Zhao’s claimed a new world record in the women’s javelin throw F13 (46.00) and Hao Wang won men’s long jump final as China’s medal tally swelled to 11 gold medals Dubai 2019 World Para Athletics Championships on Monday.

Maintaining a firm grip on top, the Chinese athletes have dominated the medals table since Doha 2015 (41 golds), followed by London 2017 (30 golds).

Zhao’s win came with a new world record in the women’s javelin throw F13 (46.00).

“I’m really excited about my record. After months of training really hard, I got a really good result. This world record is because of the hard work that I put in,” said a delighted Zhao.

Russia’s Anna Kulinich-Sorokina took silver (38.87m) and Anna Kayumova of Uzbekistan settled for bronze (38.86m).

This was Zhao’s second world title at the Dubai Club for People of Determination.

“I’m very excited about the future. The main goal is Tokyo 2020 but, before that, I have to continue working hard. I’ll train really hard to get an even better result than here, she said.

Zhao’s gold medal wasn’t the only one for China during the morning session as Hao Wang (7.29m) took the second in the men’s long jump T47. US made two-three in the podium courtesy of Roderick Townsend-Roberts (7.27) and Tobi Fawehinmi (7.17).

Meanwhile, Ukraine won two more golds on and are now on second in the medals table ahead of Brazil.

Zoia Ovsii (25.23) set a new world record in the women’s club throw F51. Joanna Butterfield (21.67) from Great Britain bagged silver and Russian Elena Gorlova (20.34) took bronze.

Nataliia Kobzar (1:02.44) won the women’s 400m F37 followed by China’s Fenfen Jiang (1:02.90) and South Africa’s Sheryl James (1:06.06).

Rio 2016 Paralympic champion Diana Dadtzite (25.54) gave Latvia their second gold with her victory in the women’s javelin F56. Hashemiyeh Motandhian (22.67) of Iran took silver and Raissa Rocha (22.28) of Brazil bronze.

Cameron Crombie (15.73) claimed Australia’s third gold medal in the men’s shot put F38. Ukraine’s Oleksandr Doroshenko (15.27) won his second silver, while Crombie’s teammate Marty Jackson (15.14) secured bronze.

USA’s Deja Young set the third worlds record on in the third heat of the women’s 100m T47 with a time of 11.92s. The final will take place on Tuesday evening.

On Sunday, South Africa’s first gold medal at the championships came through Anrune Weyers, who won the women’s 400m T47 with a championship record (55.79).

“Last year was really tough because of injuries. It has been a miracle to run here, because I just had six weeks of training [after a surgery] so this is has been amazing. I’m really thankful to be injury free and run,” Weyers said.  

It was her second world title. Four years after the first one in Doha.

China’s Lu Li took silver (58.61) and Lisbeli Vera of Venezuela, bronze (58.98).

Great Britain’s Aled Davies clinched his fourth world shot put title. Luxembourg’s Tom Habscheid finished in second place (15.10) and Iran’s Sajad Mohammadian in third (14.39).

Davies’ was Great Britain’s second gold in the evening session. The first came with Marie Lyle in the women’s 100m T35.

Three new world records were set in an evening session.

James Turner of Australia broke the men’s 100m T36 world record in 11.72.

“I was always planning to be head [of the race], everybody is. I’m now thinking about the 400m and there is a lot of hard work to do. This is a really good preparation for me, this is a really good test event for me before Tokyo [2020 Paralympics].”

China’s Yifei Yang took silver (11.79) and Malaysia’s former world record holder Mohamad Puzi, bronze (11.97).

China’s Xiaoyan Wen smashed the women’s long jump T37 (5.22) ahead of USA’s Jaleen Roberts (4.81) and Poland’s Marta Piotrowska (4.45).

The third world record set on Sunday evening meant Jordan’s first gold at Dubai 2019. Ahmad Hindi bettered his own mark with 12.17 meters. Iran’s Mehran Nikoeimajd won silver (11.41) and Mauricio Valencia of Colombia took the bronze medal (11.35).

After finishing third in the 400m T13, Paralympic champion Leilia Adzhametova got her revenge in the women’s 100m T13 giving Ukraine their fifth world title at Dubai 2019.

Wheelchair racer Walid Ktila grabbed his second victory in Dubai and Tunisia’s third gold medal in the men’s 100m T34. For Germany and India, Sunday brought the second gold. Indian thrower Sundar Gurjar’s won the men’s javelin F46 (61.22) while German jumper Leon Schaefer dominated the men’s long jump T63 (6.90).