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- Welsh Para Legend Aled Davies Takes Gold Again . . . As Michael Jenkins Proves Next Gen Talent
On Saturday, Jenkins broke the European record to claim bronze in the F38 shot put final, while the final session of the championships in New Delhi saw Davies claim gold in the F63 shot put.
Sunday’s win was Davies seventh consecutive world title in a remarkable career, which has been hampered by injury in recent seasons.
In a thrilling competition, the legendary Welsh athlete threw 16.44m on his fifth attempt to put himself in pole position.
Faisel Sorour from, Kuwait, who beat Davies to gold at last year’s Paris Paralympics, set a new area record of 16.28m with his sixth attempt, but it wasn’t enough to claim the top spot this time around.
"It's quite surreal to be honest," said Davies. "Faisal is coming along and he has been pushing me. But I haven't been able to respond to him in the last few years. It feels good to be back but I still feel there's so much more to come."
READ MORE: Welsh Para Star Funmi Oduwaiye Hopes World Championships Medal Will Be First of Many
Davies’ triumph was made even more sweet by the fact he has battled against a painful long term condition called osteitis pubis in recent seasons.
The 34-year-old was forced to undergo surgery for the complaint which causes pain and swelling in the groin.
But now Davies is back and has set himself the goal of breaking his own world record at the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles.
The multiple world, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games champion said: "After last year's heartbreak, the pain of the last four or five years with my injuries, and finally accepting that I needed to have a few repairs.
"I had to have a reconstruction of my hip and I was told I might not come back to the standards I was at.
"I've done that. I've come back, rebuilt in the silence and I've come here and competed again.
"I'm building towards LA. I'm going to break my world record."
The previous day, young pretender Jenkins, who Davies has taken under his wing, produced a superb new European record to claim bronze in the F38 shot put.
The 20-year-old threw 18.84m to finish third behind Columbians Jose Lemos Rivas and Levin Moreno Denis who set a huge new world record of 20.38m.
A delighted Jenkins said afterwards: “I genuinely don’t know how to describe the competition, I need a few days to reflect and figure it out.”
The Pembrokeshire athlete revealed he also bagged another prize in addition to the bronze medal and European record.
Team mate Davies promised to give Jenkins his shot, if the youngster exceeded 18.50m.
Jenkins said: “Opening with nearly a metre PB is kind of insane. I had a bet with Aled. I competed with his shot put today, and he said if I get 18.50, I can have his shot. Obviously, I did 18.85 so that is now my shot! So, thank you very much, Al!
“I’ve seen Al as a brother for a very, very long time. I’ve trained with him for pretty much my entire athletics career.
“I genuinely can’t describe how much our relationship means to me. He’s been keeping me calm the entire camp. Making sure I’m happy, making sure I know what I’m doing. It’s amazing.”
Jenkins hopes the standard of Saturday’s competition will now see the F38 shot put classification included at the Paralympic Games.
“The two Columbian lads, unbelievable performances from both of them. Hopefully, a performance like that with us three, and all the other lads, will give us more of a chance to have our event in the Paralympics. It’s been a good day.”
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