Shane Hudson

Alphanso 'The Ambassador' Cunningham - FILE photos

Jamaica's Paralympic team to the IPC's Athletics World Championships is in the final stages of preparation for what is expected to be a successful campaign in Lyon, France, later this month.

Alphanso 'The Ambassador' Cunningham, Jamaica's celebrated Paralympian, will lead the medal hunt and is expected to mine gold in both the F53/53 javelin and discus.

"He's in a world record-breaking mode for the javelin," stated coach Neville Sinclair with quiet confidence.

Medal performances should come from the well decorated and powerful Beijing bronze medallist Tanto Campbell in the F54-56 discus and Sylvia Grant in the F57/58 javelin. Grant will also challenge for a medal in the discus.

Shane Hudson, the experienced 400m runner, will tackle the American and European charge in the T46 400m and is expected to tame the competition as the gold is within his grasp. He will also line up for the 200m.

If Javon Campbell, who was not classified last year in T46, gets the green light in the new T47 class, his runs in the 100m and 200m should add to the array of medals in the cabinet.

renew campaign

David Bascoe, who represented Jamaica at the Guadalajara Para Pan American Games in Mexico in 2011- but who at that time suffered an injury - is back and will renew his campaign in the T46 200m and 400m. Newcomer Isaiah Simms will be tested in the T13 100m and 200m, while his teammate and newcomer Romadeo Williams from Glenmuir High School will do battle in the T46 100m and 200m.

President of the Jamaica Paralympic Association, Christopher Samuda, in looking ahead commented: "We faced several challenges in preparing for these championships, but our athletes - like proficient soldiers - are ready for combat and victory."

Samuda and secretary general Suzanne Harris-Henry, who is the chef de mission, are looking forward to good performances in France along with coach Sinclair, massage therapist Ricardo Bailey and athlete laison officer Mark Barton.

The team leaves the island on Monday, July 15. The opening ceremony will be on July 19 and team Jamaica will be sporting French berets in national colours, which should take Lyon by storm. The closing ceremony is scheduled for July 28 and the team returns on July 29.