Hannah aims for success

WHEELCHAIR racer Hannah Cockroft, one of the heroines of London 2012, will bid for glory on day one of the World Para Athletics Championships tonight.

The best para athletes in the world will bid to spark memories of the London Paralympics in the competition, which runs until July 23.

The opening of the World Para Athletics Championships at London Stadium, which precede the IAAF World Championships next month, will be tinged with sadness following the death of Abdullah Hayayei.

The 36-year-old, who was due to represent the United Arab Emirates in the F34 class discus, javelin and shot put, died after a discus cage collapsed on him as he trained at Newham Leisure Centre on Tuesday. A police investigation is ongoing.

There will be a moment of silence tonight before competition after a second fatality for the Paralympic movement within a year.

Iranian cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad died following a crash in a road race at the Rio Paralympics.

The anticipated highlight of the first evening of action on the track and field is Cockroft in the T34 100 metres final.

The 24-year-old Yorkshirewoman will be seeking a fourth straight world title in the distance and her eighth in all.

Cockroft won two Paralympic titles in London five years ago and three more in Rio. last September.

One of her rivals is Kare Adenegan, the 16-year-old Coventry racer who claimed three medals behind Cockroft in Rio.

Paralympic champion Jo Butterfield defends her world title in the F51 club throw in another anticipated strong event for the hosts on the opening night.

More than 230,000 of the 500,000 tickets have been sold, a record for the championships.

However, organisers hope for more to attend to recreate the atmosphere of London 2012.