Tunisia and Algeria will provide the largest number of the expected 260 competitors from 20 countries that will be in action at the Olympic Athletics Stadium from June 16 to 18.

Ktila will be among 25 medallists from last year's World Championships in Lyon taking part and after a surprise defeat to Finland's Henry Manni in Nottwil, Switzerland last time out, Ktila will be looking to get back to winning ways as he competes in the T34 100 metres, 400m and 800m events.

Fellow Paralympic and world champion Abderrahim Zhiou will also be out to impress the home crowd as he takes on the T12 1,500m and 5,000m events, where his biggest threat is expected to come from World Championship bronze medallist Nacer-Eddine Karfas of Algeria.

Abbes Saidi and Mohamed Charmi will look to take advantage of the absence of Ireland's Paralympic and world champion Michael McKillop in the T38 1,500m, but Yassine Gharbi does not have that luxury in the T54 800m as he comes up against Finland's World and Paralympic champion Leo Pekka-Tahti, although the Tunisian finished ahead of Pekka-Tahti in Nottwil last month.

Abderrahim Zhiou will be aiming for a T12 1,500m and 5,000m double at the Olympic Athletics Stadium ©AFP/Getty Images



The home nation also boasts a strong line-up in the women's field events, including Paralympic and world champions Maroua Ibrahmi in the F32 club and Raoua Tlili in the F41 discus, while (F54/55/56) javelin world champion Hania Aidi will be favourite for gold.

Mexico is also well represented in the field in the form of F57/58 shot put Paralympic and world champion Angeles Ortiz Hernandez and Luis Zepeda, who holds a world title in the F54 javelin, while World Championship gold and bronze medallists Estela Salas and Esther Rivera will battle it out in the F52/53 javelin.

Mexican Angeles Ortiz Hernandez will be hoping to break any North African stranglehold on medals in Tunis ©Getty Images



In the men's field events, Algerian trio Kamel Kardjena, Karim Betina and Mounir Bakiri finished first, second and third respectively at both London 2012 and last year's World Championships and will be expected to occupy the F32/33 shot put podium again in Tunis, but in what order remains to seen.

Back on the track, Algeria will also be expecting to ensure North African dominance in the form of world champion Abdellatif Baka as he competes in the T13 1,500m, while double world champion Samir Nouioua will be favourite in the T46 1,500m.

The IPC Athletics Grand Prix series will then move on to the German capital Berlin from June 20 to 22, before the season finale at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, Great Britain when the Grand Prix Final takes place on August 25.

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