PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![STAGE IS SET: The National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest is seen from the top level of the Olympic Tower in the Olympic Green in Beijing, China. The area will host a number of events for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, including the opening ceremonies.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-12/Birds%20Nest.jpg?itok=7k3OExhC)
Beijing 2022 assures a Winter Games spectacle
‘Winter Paralympic Games have created a good environment for people with disabilities to more actively integrate into society so that the Games will continue to improve the situation for people with disabilities in China.'
![Sumit Antil](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-12/Sumit%20Antil%201.jpg?itok=LDdCB-bK)
A friendship that shaped the career of India’s star Sumit Antil
‘Mohit quit his job as a merchant navy officer to be by my side’
![Zheng Tao](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-12/Zheng%20Tao%201.jpg?itok=6RdnL73s)
Chinese athletes ruled the roost
Among the four Chinese athletes who have won more than three gold medals in Tokyo, Tan Shumei is the only athlete who has won all the matches that she competed in.
![Rowan Crothers](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-11/Rowan%20Crothers.jpg?h=da977f03&itok=7PLgY6tQ)
The bromance that set Australian hearts alight
'In my eight years racing internationally, I don’t recall being a part of a team as special as the one in Tokyo. There has been a huge cultural shift - a prime example, sometimes we skipped half our warm-down, just to watch another Aussie compete'
![Close up of Anastasia Pagonis of USA brown eyes, brown hair and white USA mask](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-08/1801516.jpg?h=a8b41485&itok=VukQsiJn)
Youngsters who leapfrogged into history in 2021
'Mental health is 100 per cent of the game. If you're not mentally there then you're not there at all'
![Marcel Hug of Switzerland reacts after victory in the Men's Marathon T52 at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-12/GettyImages-1338373928.jpg?itok=x1ZUJ1c9)
2021 recap: The great Para athletics comeback
Outstanding Grand Prix season with a European Championships topped by the Paralympic Games, 2021 had it all for Para athletics
![Kylie Grimes of Great Britain celebrates with teammates after defeating United States to win the Wheelchair Rugby gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-12/Kylie%20Grimes%20Wheelchair%20Rugby.jpg?h=c1f0c31b&itok=Uh8_mVp-)
Memorable team performances of 2021
Morocco men's 5-a-side football team create history
![Phil Eaglesham](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-12/phil2__0.jpg?h=40b620b7&itok=q1AMycML)
Ireland’s Eaglesham hits target with wheelchair invention
The shooter’s innovative design a huge hit among athletes at Paralympic Games
![A sit skier going around the gates and skiing down the hill.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-12/rsz_1world_paraalpine_world_cup_veysonnaz_lucpercival_20-01-12_01808.jpg?itok=xHdbMCBJ)
Bauchet triumphs at the last test before Lillehammer
France’s Arthur Bauchet continues to lead in men’s standing class, while Austrian twins Johannes and Barbara Aigner take nine medals from Switzerland
![A man lying on the shooting range with a range and aiming.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-12/rsz_vs-para_europa_cup-monday-2577.jpg?itok=pC-rLAmp)
Kononova and Holub undefeated in Finland
Chinese Para Nordic newcomers win two gold medals in final races before the Paralympic year to finish off a great competition in Vuokatti
![Ahmad Rafiq Aldaji](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-12/Ahmad%20Rafiq%20Aldaji%20.jpg?itok=iWdo7w7G)
Syrian refugee Ahmad Rafiq Aldaji makes Worlds debut
He starred for the World Para Taekwondo Refugee team in his first international event
![Snow covered scene with Beijing 2022 mascots](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-03/beijing-2022-Yangqing%20%203%20%283%29.jpg?h=922b6f92&itok=3DUiNd2U)
Eight winter sport candidates to stand for IPC Athletes' Council elections
The IPC Athletes' Council elections will take place from 25 February to 11 March during the Beijing 2021 Paralympic Winter Games
![A female swimmer with a surprised expression in the pool](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-12/GettyImages-1337578052.jpg?itok=IuKbNDq1)
2021 recap: newcomers and legends shine in unforgettable year
First World Series in Paralympic year and Madeira Euros pave the way to fantastic ten days at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre
![Amdou Diallo Diouf](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-12/Amadou%20Diallo%20Diouf%20.jpg?itok=v43vlxco)
Spanish athlete Amdou Diallo Diouf in anti-doping rule violation
- International Paralympic Committee has referred the matter to the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation for them to determine further sanction
![Stuart Robinson of Great Britain reacts after defeating United States during the gold medal wheelchair rugby match at Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-12/Stuart%20Robinson.jpg?h=a9edb586&itok=Ivm5E1Fs)
GB Wheelchair Rugby champ Stuart Robinson hungry for more gold
The 39-year-old was a key member of the triumphant Great Britain side in Tokyo
![A woman standing next to two female wheelchair users on a podium at Tokyo 2020](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-12/51422431526_ae60c96f49_c.jpg?h=5462a70b&itok=tGDlOdF5)
2021 recap: a season to shooting Para sport history
World Cup returns before newcomers and shooting legends meet at the Paralympic Games while Italy wraps up the year with the Para Trap Worlds
![A male wheelchair dancer holding a female wheelchair dancer on his lap](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-12/Para%20Dance%20Sport%20-%20Genoa%202021.jpg?h=fa57fc46&itok=TxmBrWN_)
2021 recap: Competitions return and Para dance goes virtual
A lookback at a season full of emotions and surprises when new stars broke through and world champions showed fine form