Paris 2024: Big moments on Day 4
Japan stun Australia in "miraculous" wheelchair rugby semi-final Shi Yiting edges out Danielle Aitchison in thrilling women's 200m T36 final Colombia earn opening win as blind football kicks off at the Eiffel Tower 01 Sep 2024
As the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games continue, we're bringing you the cannot-miss sport updates and behind the scenes magic moments. Follow for updates throughout the day.
Japan stuns Australia in wheelchair rugby
Japan has reached the wheelchair rugby final for the first time following a thrilling 52-51 semi-final win over Australia at the Champ-de-Mars Arena on Sunday.
Japan will now face the winners of Great Britain against USA which takes place this evening.
The match finished 47-47 at the end of regular time before the Japanese secured victory by the smallest of margins in overtime.
Japanese player Yukinobu Ike, who scored 16 tries in the game, said: “Our goal is to win the gold medal but, more than that, we are trying to play our rugby. This is the most important thing for the team. We tried to do our best and that brought this miraculous result, us beating Australia.
“A lot of fans came to Paris from Japan, and many fans are supporting us from home. We can’t control the colour of the medal we are winning but, with our supporters by our side, we will make a bigger effort to claim gold. We want to get our best result and share our happiness with our fans.”
Full wheelchair rugby schedule and results
Shi retains title in gripping race
China's Shi Yiting ran a Paralympic record time to win a thrilling women's 200m T36 final in the Para athletics at the Stade de France.
Shi edged out New Zealand's Danielle Aitchison, with her winning time of 27.50 just 0.03 seconds outside of Aitchison's world record set earlier this year.
Australian Mali Lovell finished third in 29.82 to clinch the bronze medal.
It means Shi takes the Paralympic title in the event for the third Games in a row, having also triumphed in Rio and Tokyo.
Silver medallist Aitchison, who had won the World Para Athletics Championships title in Kobe when setting a world record, said: "It was a hard race. I felt pretty strong out of the blocks and then in the home straight, going shoulder to shoulder with Shi Yiting. It was a serious race.
“I am a bit disappointed with the last five metres when I got a bit fatigued. I’m tired now, but I’m happy.
“The time was great, so I ran really well. I just didn’t win. But I’m really proud to be a Paralympic silver medallist.”
Elsewhere at the athletics, Eritrea made their Paralympic Games debut when Sibhatu Kesete Weldemariam competed in the men's 400m T54 heats.
Eritrea are one of three one of three delegations appearing for the first time alongside Kirabati and Kosovo.
Full Para athletics schedule and results
Colombia make winning blind football start
Colombia kicked off the blind football competition in the shadows of the Eiffel Tower with a hard-fought 1-0 opening victory over Japan.
Juan David Perez Quintero scored what was his country's first even blind football goal at the Paralympics in the eighth minute in a tight tussle.
Perez Quintero said: "This is something beyond my dreams. I want to dedicate this to my daughter. It's her fifth birthday today so this is a present for her. Our team played great today.
"To get the tournament going with a goal and a win for Colombia is incredible. The fans were incredible. More than 10,000 people were in the stadium and some of our compatriots were here too, and we felt their support."
Full blind football schedule and results
Boccia history in the making
South Korea's Jeong Soyeong and Portugal's Christina Goncalves have the chance to make history at boccia tonight after reaching the Paralympic Games' first women's gold medal match.
For the first time at the Paralympics, men and women are competing separately in the individual competition in Paris.
Jeong earned her place in the inaugural final, which takes place this evening, by beating Great Britain's Claire Taggert 3-2 in the morning session.
Gonclaves will face her in the decider after earning a 7-3 win over Poland's Gischa Ina Zayana.
Full boccia schedule and results
Great Britain enjoy success on final rowing day
Great Britain clinched three gold medal wins on the final day of the rowing competition in the men's single sculls PR1, mixed double sculls PR2 and mixed cox four PR3.
International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons was on hand to present the medals at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.
Favourites Jed Altschwager and Nikki Ayers of Australia clinching one in the new mixed double sculls PR3 class, becoming the first Paralympians to hold this Paralympic title.
Another favourite Birgit Skarstein of Norway, had a second podium place in the women's singles PR1, behind Moran Samuel of Israel, in a reverse 1-2 of their Tokyo 2020 finish.
