China continue to dominate field events at Doha 2015

China clinched a phenomenal 19th gold medal out in the field at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha, Qatar, as Qing Wu and Lijuan Zou both topped the podium on Thursday morning (29 October).

Wu struck gold in the women’s shot put F36, whilst Zou won the javelin F34 as five gold medals were decided on the eighth morning of competition in the city’s Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium.

Silver medallist at Lyon 2013, Wu climbed to the top of the podium this time around after throwing a season’s best 10.07m in the third round, 86 centimetres clear of Ukraine’s silver medallist Alla Malchyk (9.21m) as bronze went to Russia’s Aida Bronskaia (8.62m).

Zou followed not long after with a personal best in the javelin F34, leading from the opening round as she sealed victory with a best of 20.98m. Poland’s Lucyna Kornobys (18.15m) took silver and Germany’s Frances Herrmann (16.82m) won bronze.

Victory in the men’s club throw F51 went to Serbia’s Zeljko Dimitrijevic as he set a championship record 26.29m with his third attempt. India’s Amit Kumar clinched silver with 25.44m to finish just ahead of Dimitrijevic’s teammate, bronze medallist Milos Mitic (25.40m).

“I feel great. I’m so glad that there is two of us from Serbia on the podium, I want to thank my coach for the great result,” said Dimitrijevic.

Brazil took the top two spots in the women’s long jump T11 as Silvana Costa de Oliveira (5.04m) set a new championship record and Lorena Salvatini Spoladore (4.75m) managed a new personal best. Bronze went to Sweden’s Viktoria Karlsson (4.44m).

“This is a really emotional moment for me right now, because I almost didn’t make it here. I had trouble with my passport leaving Brazil, and only boarded the plane on the third try. I really wanted to break the world record, but I am really happy with my gold,” said Costa de Oliveira, who was just 15 centimetres short of the global mark.

Russia’s defending champion Nikita Prokhorov successfully held on to his shot put F46 title with a season’s best throw of 15.67m in the third round to finish ahead of China’s Enlong Wei (15.52m) and Ukraine’s Dmytro Ibragimov (15.05m) who took silver and bronze respectively.

There was plenty of action out on the track with qualification for a number of this evening’s finals. US sprinter Richard Browne (11.25) was all smiles as he raced to the line in the second heat of the men’s 100m T44. The 2013 world silver medallist is determined to stand on top of the podium this year having already won gold in the 200m.

South Africa’s Arnu Fourie finished second behind the American in 11.41 and could provide Browne’s biggest threat in this evening’s final. Germany’s Felix Streng came through to win the opening heat in 11.65.

Marlou van Rhijn and Marie-Amelie le Fur won gold and silver respectively in the 100m T44 in Lyon two years ago, and the pair will go head-to-head once more after both athletes won their heats. The Netherlands’ Blade Babe came through in the final 30 metres to win her heat in 13.34 while Le Fur looked like she was none the worse from her stunning 400m victory last night as she led the way in her heat with 13.85.

Canada’s Brent Lakatos will be hoping to make it a hat trick of gold medals in this evening’s final of the 800m T53. The 35-year-old, who won silver two years ago, will be joined in the final by the likes of reigning European champion Pierre Fairbank and the USA’s Brian Siemann, who was the fastest of this morning’s qualifiers with 1:46.78.

Poland’s Barbara Niewiedzial also looks on track to secure her third gold medal of the championships after cruising through the heats of the women’s 400m T20 in 59.76. Malaysia’s Siti Noor Iasah Mohamad Ariffin set a new Asian record (1:00.43) to win the opening heat.

Switzerland’s Marcel Hug won an incredible five world titles in Lyon, France two years ago but the 29-year-old is still looking for his first gold medal of Doha 2015 having won silver over 5,000m so far.

He will be hoping to turn silver in to gold in the 800m T54 final after comfortably progressing through this morning’s heats. China’s Yang Liu won the first of the semi-finals.

The USA’s David Brown already has the 100m title under his belt and he secured his place in tonight’s 200m T11 final after powering home to win his heat (22.86) ahead of Brazil’s 400m champion Daniel Silva (23.04). The pair will be joined by Brazil’s 100m silver medallist Felipe Gomes (23.07) as well as Ananias Shikongo (23.24) of Namibia.

Cuba’s Leinier Savon Pineda has been in terrific form in Doha so far and he will be hoping to add to his victory over 100m with a win in the 200m this evening after leading the way in the heats (22.63). South Africa’s Jonathan Ntutu (22.91) is amongst those hoping to upset the form book.

South Africa’s Ilse Hayes and France’s Nantenin Keita both looked in fine form as they raced through to the finals of the women’s 100m T13 in 12.53 and 12.54 respectively, while China’s Li Yingli and Yuanhang Cao won their heats of the women’s 200m T37.

The women’s 100m T35 rounded off the morning session and it was the two teenage sprint stars Isis Holt of Australia and Great Britain’s Maria Lyle who stole the show, dominating their respective heats from the gun. Lyle set a new championship record 14.57 in the first heat then Holt followed that up with 14.19 - a thrilling final is on the cards.

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