Sprinters grab the spotlight on day two of Rio 2016

The world’s fastest Paralympians will battle it out at the Olympic Stadium, while the action also heats up in judo, shooting and powerlifting. 09 Sep 2016

Ireland’s Jason Smyth, the fastest para-athlete on the planet.

ⒸAlex Ferro/Rio 2016

By IPC

All eyes will focus on the Olympic Stadium on Friday (9 September) when the world’s fastest Paralympics battle it out for a succession of sprint crowns.

Ireland’s Jason Smyth, the fastest Paralympian on the planet, will be hoping to secure his third consecutive 100m T13 Paralympic title.

Omara Dumand looks hard to beat in the women’s 100m T12, while USA star Tatyana McFadden competes in the women’s 100m T54 final as she aims to collect the first of a possible seven gold medals in Rio.

Great Britain’s defending champion Jonnie Peacock qualified fastest in the heats of the men’s 100m T44 on Thursday (8 September), but New Zealander Liam Malone could put him under genuine pressure after beating the USA’s Jarryd Wallace in the heats.

Elsewhere, three gold medals are up for grabs in the powerlifting.

China’s Dandan Hu looks strong in the women’s up to 45kg category, as does Nigeria’s Roland Ezuruike in the men’s up to 54kg event.

In the men’s up to 56kg category, Egypt’s Sherif Osman is favourite after setting a world record of 210.5kg earlier this year – but Great Britain’s Ali Jawad will also fancy his chances.

Iran could be celebrating later today if Sareh Javanmardidodmani holds her nerve in the P2 (women’s 10m air pistol SH1) shooting event at Deodoro.

And watch out for South Korea’s Chul Park, a 35-year-old who only took up shooting in 2012 but has shown enormous potential, as he battles with Ukraine’s Oleksii Denysiuk in P1 (men’s 10m air pistol SH1).

On the tatami, Ukraine could enjoy a fabulous day – the top-seeded athletes for all four of Friday’s (9 September) judo competitions are all Ukranian.

Dmytro Solovey (men’s up to 73kg), Inna Cherniak (women’s up to 57kg), Iryna Husieva (women’s up to 63kg) and Olexandr Kosimov (men’s up to 81kg) are the leading contenders in their respective categories, but will face fierce competition from athletes around the world determined to claim their own gold medals.

Finally, Japanese star Shingo Kunieda starts the defence of his Paralympic title in the men’s singles wheelchair tennis.