Slovakia's Radoslav Malenovský won the mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1 title at the Shooting Para Sport World Cup in Al Ain ©Getty Images

Slovakia and China picked up the first two gold medals of the event today as the Al Ain Shooting Para Sport World Cup began in the United Arab Emirates.

In all, 13 medal events are due to take place over the next nine days at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club, with the mixed 10 metre air rifle prone SH1 and the mixed 25m pistol SH1 contests decided today.

In the 10m event Slovakia’s Radoslav Malenovský triumphed ahead of Germany’s Natascha Hiltrop and Australia’s Anton Zappelli.

The 32-year-old Malenovský, fourth in the same event at Rio 2016, took victory with a score of 254.1 points.

Hiltrop, 12th at Rio 2016, came second with 252.8 points and Zappelli’s score of 231.7 sealed him third.

Four-time Paralympic champion Zhang Cuiping from China finished fourth. 

Action is taking place at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club until February 24 ©Shooting Para Sport
Action is taking place at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club until February 24 ©Shooting Para Sport

The day’s other final was taken by China's reigning Paralympic champion Huang Xing.

He won the mixed 25m pistol SH1 event with 30 points, beating compatriot and fellow Paralympic gold medallist Yang Chao.

Chao, winner of the gold medal in the men’s 10m air pistol SH1 at Rio 2016, came second today with a score of 28 points.

Ukraine’s World Championship bronze medallist Oleksii Denysiuk came third with 22 points.

Four finals are scheduled to go ahead tomorrow, including in the men’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 class and the women’s 50m rifle three positions SH1 division .