Grosseto 2016 - Day six preview

The opening event on Thursday morning sees Russia’s reigning world champion Vladislav Frolov go for gold in the men’s shot put F32 –he will have to get past the likes of Poland’s Maciej Sochal who set a new world record in the club throw on Tuesday.

Russian hopes also rest with world champion Andrei Vdovin in the men’s 100m T38, world silver medallist Egor Sharov in the men’s 400m T13, world bronze medallist Evgenii Torsunov in the men’s 200m T36, world bronze medallist Andrei Poroshin in the men’s long jump T38 and the defending champion in the women’s javelin F54, Mariia Bogacheva.

Natalia Kocherova meanwhile is aiming for her fifth gold medal of Grosseto 2016 in the women’s 1,500m T54 – she missed out on a clean sweep of six European titles after finishing second in the 100m on Wednesday.

The men’s 1,500m T54 features Great Britain’s Paralympic champion David Weir who is going for an impressive four golds in Grosseto, while Finland’s Henry Manni can also secure his fourth gold of the week if he wins the 800m T34.

Frenchman Louis Radius won 800m T38 bronze at Doha 2015 – he races over two laps on Thursday having already won the 1,500m four days ago.

Germany’s Irmgard Bensusan and Great Britain’s Laura Sugar clinched 100m T44 silver and bronze behind Dutch star Marlou van Rhijn at Swansea 2014 – the pair go again on Thursday, and with no Van Rhijn in Grosseto, there will be a battle for the top of the podium.

The men’s shot put F33 features all three medallists from Doha 2015 – the same trio that stood on the podium at the last European Championships. Russia’s world record holder Evgenii Malykh reigning supreme both times – his teammate Aleksandr Khrupin and Germany’s Daniel Scheil won silver and bronze respectively.

The women’s shot put F20 features the current top three Para athletes in the world – headed up by Poland’s Ewa Durska, who threw 13.73m in Poland last month. Watch out too for Great Britain’s Sabrina Fortune and Portugal’s Ines Fernandes.

Lithuania’s Mindaugas Bilius has already won the shot put F37 title in Grosseto this week – the 34-year-old throws in the discus F37 on Thursday – he is currently ranked number three in the world.

A number of relays also take place before the six days of competition comes to a close – watch out for the British women’s team in the 4x100m T35-38 – the quartet smashed the world record at last year’s World Championships.

Live streaming, live results and full schedules are available at www.grosseto2016.com

For broadcast footage from Grosseto2016 please email IPC Broadcasting Manager sascha.beck@paralympic.org

Rights free images from the event can be downloaded here: www.flickr.com/paralympic