PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![Woman riding a horse with various nation's flags in the background](/sites/default/files/images/170505090927917_Hannlore%2BBRENNER-FEI%2BJon%2BStroud.jpg)
Brenner to test new horse in Mannheim
A slew of German riders, including the Rio 2016 team runners-up, will compete at home.
Multi-champion Gjessing gears up for Worlds
After some personal time off, the three-time Danish taekwondo athlete is preparing to ramp up her training schedule.
![Group photo of participants after a training course](/sites/default/files/images/170505094648866_iran%2Bclassifier%2Bcourse.jpg)
Iran hosts classification courses
Iranian Para sport officials learned more about classification specifically in athletics.
![Loterias da Caixa - Brazil](/sites/default/files/images/170505112545290_Caixa.jpg)
Loterias da Caixa extends sponsorship with CPB
The public institution will continue investing in Para sports until Tokyo 2020, as part of its agreement with the Brazilian Paralympic Committee.
![Sadegh Bigdeli of Iran, Petro Ostrynskyi and Sergii Shevchenko of Ukraine compete during Mens Sitting Volleyball match between Iran and Ukraine at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.](/sites/default/files/images/160915142731651_GettyImages-605794562.jpg)
Qualification criteria for 2018 Worlds released
World ParaVolley made the announcement on 26 April, with 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams set to compete in the Netherlands in July 2018.
![Gordon Reid - Rio 2016](/sites/default/files/images/160916214826650_29407881680_8e09f13cca_z.jpg)
Great Britain, Poland complete men’s semi-finals
They joined defending champions France and Belgium in the next round of the 2017 wheelchair tennis World Team Cup in Alghero, Italy.
![Kate McLoughlin - Australia - Chef de Mission](/sites/default/files/images/170505111951859_Kate%2BMcLoughlin.jpg)
McLoughlin announced as Australia’s Chef de Mission
The APC appointed McLoughlin, who led the delegation at Rio 2016, with three years to go until Tokyo 2020.
![IPC President Sir Philip Craven meets with Iranian Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Masoud Soltanifar.](/sites/default/files/images/170505140245974_Iran.jpg)
IPC President visits Iran
During his visit Sir Philip Craven praised the work of the Iranian National Paralympic Committee.
![Nandor Tunkel](/sites/default/files/images/151105111854301_hungary%2Bpowerlifting_0.jpg)
Tunkel victorious at home powerlifting World Cup
The Hungarian improved on his bronze medal winning lift from Rio 2016 to reach a new personal best in Eger.
![Assunta Legnante](/sites/default/files/images/130715160208292_Legnante.jpg)
Preview: World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Italy
Rieti will stage three days of action between 5-7 May.