PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![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.
NPC Iceland name new President
Thordur Arni Hjaltested will succeed Svein Aki Luoviksson after two decades.
![The USA's Jarryd Wallace after breaking the 100m T44 world record at Toronto 2015.](/sites/default/files/images/150812035254472_smNSD115.jpg)
In-form Jarryd Wallace heads to Arizona Grand Prix
The former 100m and 200m T44 world record holder has posted his fastest ever season-opening times.
![APC Logo square](/sites/default/files/images/160517100049409_Americas%2BParalympic%2BEmblem_square.jpg)
Voting open for Americas ‘Athlete of the Month’
Popular vote will decide who the best athlete in the Americas was in April 2017, via www.americasparalympic.org.
![Switzerland - wheelchair tennis - World Team Cup](/sites/default/files/images/170504121037293_Switzerland.jpg)
World Team Cup women’s semi-finalists decided
The Netherlands, Switzerland, China and the USA advanced into the women’s semi-finals; France and Belgium secured a place in the men’s next round.