PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sport Week: Classification in wheelchair tennis
Athletes are assigned to two sport classes, and all have an impairment that affects their legs.

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 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.

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.

Young yet experienced Kasperi ready for Euros
The 22-year-old has especially developed physically to help Sweden at Ostersund 2016.

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 dominates Dublin Friendship Tournament
The tournament provided competition for nations to develop their football 7-a-side teams.

Sport Week: Introduction to wheelchair tennis
The sport is one of the fastest growing wheelchair sports and will make its seventh Games appearance.

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.

Netherlands goes undefeated in Toronto Challenge
The Dutch women’s wheelchair basketball team topped the friendly tournament.

Sport Week: Five boccia storylines
Here are the top storylines in the sport heading into the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

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.

Norway tries for sledge hockey turnaround
The upcoming European Championships offer Norway a chance to regain their regular spot on the podium.

USA claim first-ever Pan Pacific gold
The host nation extended its sledge hockey dominance, with Declan Farmer coming up big.

Sport Week: Ones to watch in boccia
A rundown on the athletes battling for the boccia podium at Rio 2016.