Anthony Minott, Freelance Writer

Jamaica have made a fabulous start to the Paralympic Pan Am Games in Brazil, winning three medals - a gold and two silver - on their first days of competition. Meanwhile, the country gained medals on Monday.

Alphanso Cunningham claimed gold in the men's Class F53 discus event, with a throw of 25.44 metres, to score 1002 points on Monday, finishing ahead of the United States' Leon Carlos (Class F52) and H.T. Bascioni (Class F52), who ended third. The discus was merged with Classes F32-34/F51-53 athletes.

Then wondergirl Sylvia Grant took an unexpected silver in the women's Class F57 javelin, throwing 17.23 metres for 865 points. She was beaten by Mexico's Velazco Reyes, Class F58 with a 28.94 m throw that yielded 981 points. Third went to Estrada Garcia (12.37m).

Jamaica chalked up their third medal yesterday when Tanto Campbell won silver in the men's Class F56 discus.

Campbell, the former world record holder for the event, had to settle for the runner-up spot, while losing his record to the eventual winner, Cuban Diaz Aldana Leonardo, who heaved the implement to an impressive 39.90m mark.

Campbell led for the first three rounds, but the Cuban's fourth throw shattered Campbell' old mark of 39.08 metres. Third went to the US's Winkler Scott in a modest 23.78 metres.

Nonetheless, Jamaica's coach, Errol Williams, was pleased.

He said: "Tanto did well under the circumstances. He didn't break his world record, but he still got a silver medal for his efforts. The competition was stiff and the Cuban athlete is good ... all in all Campbell did pretty well."

Confident of medals

Williams also praised the character of the athletes: "The performances over these past two days have been good. Our three main performers (Campbell, Cunningham and Grant) got us off to a good start."

He is confident that Jamaica will get at least three more medals before the Games conclude on August 21.

"I'm looking for at least three more medals. If I get one more medal I will still be satisfied," Williams said.

He expected Grant to medal in her pet event, the discus, and Cunningham in the men's javelin. As for the long jump, Williams says this is new territory and he hopes youngsters Toto Campbell - Tanto's twin - and Bryan Ingram can pull off a surprise.

At the last Paralympic Pan American Games, which was staged in Argentina, Jamaica won two silver and a bronze.