Paralympic champion Claudiney Batista was a winner today in the men's discus ©Getty Images

Brazilian throwers led the way with a series of superb performances on the opening day of the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in São Paulo.

Winners included the reigning Paralympic discus champion Claudiney Batista in the F56/57 javelin and Caio Vinicius in the T12 shot put.

However, the performance of the day went to discus thrower Thiago Paulino in a South American dominated event at the Brazilian Paralympic Training Centre.

His mark of 48.04 metres added 36 centimetres on to his previous F57 world record set last year.

The event was not contested at last year's Paralympic Games.

"I am very happy because I have worked pretty hard for this result,” said Paulino, who finished fifth in the F57 shot put at Rio 2016," said the winner.

“I got a bit frustrated because I could not get a medal at Rio 2016 last year, but I started working right after the Games for the discus throw event.

“Achieving such a great outcome right in the first competition of 2017 gets me confident in the lead-up to the World Championships."

Despite registering by far the longest mark, Paulino had to settle for second place in the combined F55, F56 and 57 events due the points system.

Batista, an F56 competitor, was awarded victory with 44.20 as Jonas Licurdo Ferreira, an F55 athlete, a finished third with 32.99.

Athletes compete in 100 metres qualifying on the opening day of the meeting ©Getty Images
Athletes compete in 100 metres qualifying on the opening day of the meeting ©Getty Images

Vinicius won the men's T12 shot put with a 15.43m throw - a mark which puts him top of the 2017 world rankings.

Alessandro Rodrigo Da Silva made it a Brazilian 1-2 with second place after a best of 12.27.

Argentina's Antonio Victoriano Rodas took third with 11.99.

Batista managed the longest javelin throw in the F56/57 thanks to his fourth-round effort of 40.95m.

Ciceno Valdrian did actually manage further, a best of 42.98, but was in the less impaired F57 category so took second place on points.

Argentina's Federico Edgard Bergero took a distance bronze with 21.21.

There was also home success on the track when Paralympic champion and local hero Petrucio Ferreira comfortably won the 100m T47, in 11.18.

Team-mate Yohansson Nascimento was second with 11.35 while Washington Nascimento Junior completed a Brazilian clean sweep by taking bronze in 11.49.

Former Paralympic and world champion Lucas Prado came out on top in the men’s 100m T11 in 11.47.

He beat team-mates Felipe Gomes, in 11.52, and Ricardo Costa de Oliveira, in 12.05.