PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![The World and European champion in the T47 class speaks about his best and worst career moments.](/sites/default/files/images/160405084833161_Michal%2BDerus.jpg)
My best and worst moments with Poland’s Michal Derus
The World and European champion in the T47 class shares his highs and lows.
![Fiona Allan, Chief Executive, PNZ, with members of the Harvey Norman's team.](/sites/default/files/images/160404075050833_new%2Bzealand2.jpg)
Harvey Norman to fundraise nationally in support of the New Zealand Paralympic Team
Australasia’s largest retailers of Furniture, Bedding, Computer and Electrical will conduct a nationwide fundraising campaign in support of the team heading to Rio 2016.
![Yijun Chen](/sites/default/files/images/130717150801043_Wheelchair%2BFencing_0.jpg)
Chen eyes Asian Championships title
China’s Yijun Chen is hoping to guarantee a place at Rio 2016 with gold at the Asian Wheelchair Fencing Championships.
![Female wheelchair tennis player in action on a blue court](/sites/default/files/images/121203113534829_108332258.jpg)
Sport Week: Classification in wheelchair tennis
Athletes are assigned to two sport classes, and all have an impairment that affects their legs.
![Two men in British racing vests hold a union jack behind them as they celebrate victory,](/sites/default/files/images/151018064745441_GettyImages-482018104.jpg)
Henson targets improvement at Grosseto Grand Prix
The British war veteran will be aiming to stake his claim for a place in the Paralympics GB team for Rio 2016 with a good performance at the IPC Athletics Grand Prix.
![Australian sprinter Isis Holt and New Zealand swimmer Sophie Pascoe break world records.](/sites/default/files/images/160405093404271_Sophie%2BPascoe%2Band%2BIsis%2BHolt.jpg)
Australian Holt and New Zealander Pascoe break world records
Sprinter Isis Holt lowered her own 100m T35 world record, whilst Sophie Pascoe took more than a second off the 100m butterfly S10 mark.
![The Paralympian 01/2016 - cover](/sites/default/files/images/160329095228548_WEB_Paralympian_012016_final_Page_01.jpg)
Special Rio 2016 preview edition of The Paralympian now available
The first edition of 2016 profiles several of the athletes going for gold at September’s Games.
![Florian Planker](/sites/default/files/images/131025180454986_ITAvGER_Torino2013_IS_Hockey00076_0.jpg)
Italy, Russia, Norway, all secure opening Euros wins
The first day of the 2016 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey European Championships in Ostersund, Sweden, witnessed 11 goals.
![Five ice sledge hockey players on the field during a game](/sites/default/files/images/150320194040842_IPC%2BIce%2BSledge%2BHockey%2BWorld%2BChampionships%2B2015%2BB-Pool_442.jpg)
Teams arrive in Ostersund for sledge hockey Euros
Reigning champions Italy, hosts Sweden, Paralympic silver medallists Russia, Norway, Germany and the Czech Republic will play for honours from Tuesday (5 April).
![England's Will Ling was the top scorer during The Dublin Friendship Tournament held in April 2016.](/sites/default/files/images/160408085700475_Will%2BLing%2B.jpg)
England dominates Dublin Friendship Tournament
The tournament provided competition for nations to develop their football 7-a-side teams.
![Paralympic Sports A-Z: Wheelchair Tennis](/sites/default/files/styles/video_crop_16_9/public/oembed_thumbnails/PHZWtZq-MHnl_8mGjqFsjJcw68VrsX-fEZd92SHf3Ko.jpg?itok=wS0NMhno)
Sport Week: Introduction to wheelchair tennis
The sport is one of the fastest growing wheelchair sports and will make its seventh Games appearance.
![Rodrigo Luquez of Argentina and Jose Monteiro Guimaraes of Brazil in the football 7-a-side gold medal game at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games.](/sites/default/files/images/151022182333926_DSC_8833.jpg)
Draws revealed for football 7-a-side Pre-Paralympic tournament
Ukraine headlines Group A, while Worlds bronze medallists Brazil are the ones to beat in Group B.
![Cindy Ouellet](/sites/default/files/images/120615185746676_couellet4_wb_gold_guadalajara_mm_0.jpg)
Netherlands goes undefeated in Toronto Challenge
The Dutch women’s wheelchair basketball team topped the friendly tournament.
![The 100m T42 world champion Scott Reardon, shares with us his three favourite tunes.](/sites/default/files/images/160404105115981_4%2Bapril%2B2016.jpg)
Music Monday with Australia’s Scott Reardon
Fresh from competing in the Australian Athletics Championships, the 100m T42 world champion shares his musical tastes.
German archers target medals, Rio qualification at Euros
The German women’s compound team is looking to defend their 2014 title.
![Per Kasperi celebrating with his teammate in the game against Austria at the 2015 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships B-Pool in Ostersund, Sweden.](/sites/default/files/images/150320194119421_IPC%2BIce%2BSledge%2BHockey%2BWorld%2BChampionships%2B2015%2BB-Pool_457.jpg)
Young yet experienced Kasperi ready for Euros
The 22-year-old has especially developed physically to help Sweden at Ostersund 2016.
![Maciel Sousa Santos - Boccia](/sites/default/files/images/120908171821762_Maciel%2BSousa%2BSantos%2B-%2BBoccia_0.jpg)
Sport Week: Five boccia storylines
Here are the top storylines in the sport heading into the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
![Woman in running clothes](/sites/default/files/images/150814163434909_GettyImages-475246926.jpg)
Me and my coach with Germany’s Vanessa Low
The long jump T42 world champion and world record holder tell us all about her relationships with US coach Roderick Green.
![Norwegian ice sledge hockey team at the 2015 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships A-Pool in Buffalo, USA](/sites/default/files/images/150423172157332_BW3_1252_0.jpg)
Norway tries for sledge hockey turnaround
The upcoming European Championships offer Norway a chance to regain their regular spot on the podium.
![Two sledge hockey players on the ice, in a conversation](/sites/default/files/images/150428044514664_web%2B20150427_USA%2Bv%2BDEU_0073.jpg)
USA claim first-ever Pan Pacific gold
The host nation extended its sledge hockey dominance, with Declan Farmer coming up big.