Shari Hj Juma'at (pic) has delivered the first gold for Brunei in the China Open Athletics Championship yesterday.

A press statement issued yesterday by the Paralympic Council of Brunei Darussalam (BDPC) said that Shari who ended 2012 as the World No 1 won the javelin F55 event at the championship following a distance of 24.56 metres, short of his 26.17m in the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

Ten athletes including Shari are flying the flag for the Sultanate in the competition jointly organised by the China Administration of Sports for Persons with Disabilities (CASPD) and the International Paralympic Committee.

Some 200 athletes from 10 Asian countries are competing in this year's championship.

Today's action will see Alihan Muda take part in the F34 shotput, Shari Hj Juma'at in the F55 shotput, Norhensan Hj Mataha in the F12 discuss and John Vianni Anak Chandau in the F44 shotput.

Many of the participants taking part also represented Brunei in the London Paralympic Games, which was challenging for some because of the strong winds and cold weather.

The Brunei athletes are using the China Open to prepare themselves for the International Paralympic Committee World Athletic Championship in Lyon, France between July 19-28.

Some 1,300 athletes from over 90 countries are expected to compete at the tournament.

The athletes are also using the competition as a warm-up for the ASEAN Para Games in Myanmar next year in January.

The nine day event will conclude on Thursday.

Courtesy from Brunei Times