By Tom Degun in Christchurch

Alexey_Labzin_celebrates_getting_gold_medal_Christchurch_January_24_2011January 27 - Russia's Alexey Labzin cashed in on the absence of Ireland's Jason Smyth at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships as he claimed his second gold of the competition on day six of proceedings here at the QE II Stadium.


Smyth, the visually impaired 23-year-old from Derry was set to defend the 100 and 200 metres T13 titles he won at the last IWorld Championships in Assen four years ago but withdrew from this event failing to recover from a back injury.

His withdrawal left an opportunity for his rivals to steal the spotlight in the event and Labzin, who finished with two silver medals behind Smyth at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games in the 100 and 200m T13 event, took his opportunity.

The 32-year-old Russian from Irkutsk claimed victory in the 200m T13 final in a season's best of 22.49sec to follow up on his victory in the 100m earlier in the week.

Hussein Kadhim of Iraq claimed silver in 22.82 while Ahmadreza Kazemi of Iran took bronze in 23.46.

Labzin told insideworldparasport: "I'm very happy to have two gold medals.

"I was not sending a message to Jason Smyth but I look forward to racing him again soon.

"He will be the man to beat at London 2012 but I am not just targeting Jason Smyth, I am looking at all the top athletes as they are all very good.

Labzin's victory marked another high class day of action here where eight world records fell, two in the women's shot put F35/36 event.

Mariia Pomazan of Ukraine claimed gold and the world record in the F35 class in 10.61m while Qing Wu of China took silver and the world record in the F36 class in 9.66 metres.

Alla Malchyk, also of Ukraine, claimed bronze 9.28m.

Apinis Aigars of Latvia claimed victory and the first world record of the day in the men's discus throw  F51/52/53 event while Jean Pierre Talatini of France soon followed  as he took gold and the world record in the men's javelin throw F33/34 event.

Oleksandi Doroshenko of Ukraine took gold and the world record in the men's shot put F37/39 with a throw of 15.58m while China took the world record in the women's 4x400m T53/54 relay with a time of 2:46.11.

In the afternoon session, Hania Aidi of Tunisia claimed victory and the world record in the women's javelin throw F54/55/56with a distance of 17.27m while in the women's long jump F38, Ramune Adomaitiene of Lithuania took gold in a world record of 4.64m.

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