Wheelchair racer Anthony Bouchard wins gold at World Para Athletics Championships

Wheelchair racer Anthony Bouchard captured gold on day eight of the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, India.

The 32-year-old Canadian dominated the final of the men's 100-metre T52 event, crossing the line in a time of 16.95 seconds. 

"I followed the plan I had this morning," the newly-minted world champion said. "I shut myself off. I didn't focus on what was happening around me. Then I raced my race."

"I couldn't really leave out any details. I knew that I was getting faster and faster, but so were they."

Anthony Bouchard captures gold at the World Para Athletics Championships

Bouchard powered into the final in this morning's session with a new season's best, personal best and World Para Athletics Championships record time of 16.78 seconds.

"To be honest, I knew I had that in me," he said. "But with all the conditions we have here, the heat, the air pollution, I had some doubts." 

"I really didn't know what to expect, but I'm really, really happy with the result, but I couldn't let my performance in the morning give me too much confidence"

Elsewhere, fellow wheelchair racer Austin Smeenk booked his spot in Sunday's men's 800-metre T34 final in convincing fashion, winning his heat with a time of 1:41.45.

"Nobody really wanted to go out and take the lead off of it, nor did I. Then trouble started to accumulate, and I've been getting used to driving in real close quarters here in India," he said. 

"So I figured if I'm comfortable in chaos. You've got to be comfortable in close space."

Smeenk is the defending Paralympic champion and current world record holder in this event. He's looking to win his second medal at this year's world championships on Sunday, having won bronze in the men's 400-metre T34 final