Iraqi athlete Ahmed Naas cart-wheeled in celebration today as he broke the

Iraqi athlete Ahmed Naas cart-wheeled in celebration today as he broke the men’s F40 Paralympic javelin record but his new world best was still not enough to secure him gold.

With his fifth attempt of the competition, the 20-year-old from Nasiriyah, about 370 kilometers southeast of Baghdad, threw 43.27m, breaking his own world record which he marked by performing a triple cart-wheel.

But his celebrations were premature, as China’s Wang Zhiming delivered the perfect response by launching a 47.95m throw to shatter the world record and claim the title.

Naas’ team-mate Wildan Nukhailawi took bronze. The men celebrated with a lap of honour draped in the red, white and black flag of Iraq, with Naas, who has dwarfism, lifted onto his compatriot’s shoulders.

Their efforts took Iraq’s overall medal tally to three, after Faris Al-Ajeeli won silver in the men’s +100kg powerlifting.

Wang, who has also won the F40 shot put and discus, was one of two in the javelin for China, after Fu Lanlong took the F42 competition for leg amputees, also with a new world best of 52.79m.

Kamran Shokrisalari of Iran took silver, with Norway’s Runar Steinstad getting the bronze.

Source AP