Nottwil 2017: 10 to watch

Stars of the future taking part in first World Para Athletics Junior Championships. 31 Jul 2017
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three para athletes compete in their sport

Filipe, Carcelen and Mahlangu are hot favourites to win gold at first World Para Athletics Junior Championships.

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By IPC

The World Para Athletics Junior Championships kick off this week (3-6 August), giving the chance for the Paralympic and world champions of the future to show what they can do on the international stage. With the pick of the world’s young Para athletics talent on show in Nottwil, Switzerland, here is a rundown of who you should be keeping an eye out for.

Abdulmhsen Alotibi (KUW): The 19-year-old competed in the men’s shot put F35 at the London 2017 World Championships, finishing eighth with a 9m76 throw.

Amanda Cerna (CHI): One of the most experienced athletes at Nottwil 2017, the sprinter has already competed already at one Paralympic Games, two World Championships and one Parapan American Games. Finished fourth in the women’s 400m T47 at Rio 2016 and London 2017.

Ana Filipe (POR): Bronze medallist in the women’s long jump T20 at London 2017 with a personal best of 5m26. She also participated in the Rio Paralympics, finishing ninth in the same event.

Charles-Antoine Kouakou (FRA): Reached the final in the men’s 400m T20 at his maiden World Championships in London, Great Britain. Nottwil 2017 will be only the 18-year-old’s third event since he started competing two years ago.

Damian Carcelen (ECU): Strong favourite for both the men’s long jump and 400m T20, in Nottwil, having claimed silver in the latter at London 2017.

Jayanti Behera (IND): The 18-year-old will take part in the women’s 200m and 400m T42-47 at Nottwil 2017. She ran the final of the 400m T47 in London, coming in sixth with a time of 1:03.49.

Luis Lucumi (COL): Rio 2016 silver medallist who could secure Colombia’s first junior world champion by winning the men’s javelin F35-38, having finished fourth at London 2017.

Muhsine Gezer (TUR): Sprang a surprise at this year’s Worlds, claiming silver in the women’s 800m T20 with a personal best time of 2:22.94.

Ntando Mahlangu (RSA): 15-year-old will arrive in Nottwil after winning silver in the men’s 200m T42 at both Rio 2016 and London 2017. Mahlangu also holds the world record of 52.61 in the 400m T42.

More information, including a full list of competitors, can be found on the Nottwil 2017 website.