PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![Kevin Evans gets ready to fire at London 2012](/sites/default/files/images/120831162517333_Kevin%2BEvans_0.jpg)
One arrow shoot-offs highlight archery event
Quarter-final places were decided in the men’s and women’s recruve W1/W2.
![Natalie Du Toit](/sites/default/files/images/120830223346905_Natalie%2BDu%2BToit%2B2_0.jpg)
Swimming day 2: 15 gold medals on the agenda
An exciting line-up beckons for an action-packed day at the Aquatics Centre.
![Jonas Jacobsson](/sites/default/files/images/120125111423877_82785660.jpg)
Two gold medals on target on Day 2
Great British shooters looking to de-thrown the king of shooting from Sweden on the second day of competition.
![Goalball](/sites/default/files/images/120830225904258_Goalball_0.jpg)
Late women's goalball drama as Finland save a last-second penalty against Great Britain
Lithuania confirm their position as the men's team to beat with another big win.
![A group picture of soccer player](/sites/default/files/images/120417140703437_124110049.jpg)
Great Britain hold Spain to a 1-1 draw in football 5-a-side
Captain David Clarke grabs the equaliser for the hosts.
![Hannah Cockroft set a new Paralympic record in the women's 100m - T34 at the London 2012 Paralympic Games](/sites/default/files/images/120831161555654_151031666_menor_0.jpg)
Record defying opening day for Athletics
With 11 gold medals up for grabs, the morning session kicked-off with an impressive start: four world records were broken.
![Sherif Osman](/sites/default/files/images/120131105742774_82772837.jpg)
Sherif Othman retains his Paralympic Games title
Egyptian powerlifter lifts 197kg in men's 56kg category.
![Johan Cruyff](/sites/default/files/images/120831170811337_Johan%2BCruyff_0.jpg)
Football legend Johan Cruyff impressed by the London 2012 Paralympic Games
Dutch sporting legend: "These Games amaze me."
![A picture of a man swimming](/sites/default/files/images/120511162100061_111780884.jpg)
Thirty-six swimming races to be contested on Day 1
Keep your eyes on Australia's Matt Cowdrey, Ukraine’s Yevhiney Bohodayko and South Africa’s Natalie du Toit on the first day in the pool.
![Yuliya Halinska and Laura Garcia Benitez](/sites/default/files/images/120830212349265_Yuliya%2BHalinska%2Band%2BLaura%2BGarcia%2BBenitez_0.jpg)
Brussig sisters dominate on the first day of the judo competition
Ukraine's Yuliya Halinska also impresses at ExCeL.
![Opening Ceremony Fireworks](/sites/default/files/images/120830030830016_15_1.jpg)
Sir Philip Craven hails launch of 2012 Paralympic Games
International Paralympic Committee President says Opening Ceremony is start of something special
![Jamol Pilgrim](/sites/default/files/images/120629164722009_2%2BCREDIT%2BAntigua%2Band%2BBarbuda%2BNPC.jpg)
14 countries to make Paralympic debuts
It’s been backed to be the biggest Paralympics yet, and contributing are 14 countries making their debut at this year’s Games.
![Archery](/sites/default/files/images/120830233315240_Archery.jpg)
Matt Stutzman steals the show in his first Paralympic Games appearance
Great Britain and Russia also produce strong performances in archery
![Zhang Cuiping celebrates with her gold medal](/sites/default/files/images/120830190640875_Zhang%2BCuiping_0.jpg)
Zhang Cuiping sets new world record
Chinese shooter claims the first gold medal at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
![Empty image](/themes/custom/theme_builder/master_page_vista_2019/images/empty.png)
China and France dominant in table tennis
Both China and France stole the show on the opening day of table tennis at the ExCeL.
![Anthony Peddle](/sites/default/files/images/120830123620008_Anthony%2BPeddle_0.jpg)
Powerlifters set to raise the bar
The first day of powerlifting competitions starts with a line-up of champions.
What to watch: Day 1
The first of the swimming finals takes place with no fewer than 15 medals being decided on the first day of competition.
![Chinese Goalball Women's Team](/sites/default/files/images/111223131834028_BE1_0320.jpg)
Goalball champions to debut on day one
All 12 of the men’s teams and six of the 10 women’s teams will feature in Thursday’s opener at the Copperbox.
![Jason Smyth](/sites/default/files/images/111213164840729_2011_07_29_Jason_Smyth_2.jpg)
Ireland’s Smyth Returns 4 Years Wiser
Irish sprinter Jason Smyth will try to defend his title as fastest Paralympian on the planet.
![Esther Vergeer in action at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games](/sites/default/files/images/120203121713633_BEI_4391_0.jpg)
Wheelchair tennis draw made at Eton Manor
Esther Vergeer looks to continue remarkable winning record