Day one: Australians in action
Here are the Aussies coming up on day one in Paris (all times AEST):
Para-archery
- 9pm: Women’s individual compound open ranking round — Melissa-Anne Tanner (ST) and Ameera Lee (W2)
- 9pm: Men’s individual recurve open ranking round — Taymon Kenton-Smith
- 1am: Men’s individual compound open ranking round — Jonathon Milne (W2) and Patrick French (W2)
- 1am: Women’s individual recurve open ranking round — Amanda Jennings (ST)
Boccia
- 10pm: Men’s B3 individual — Daniel Michel
- 4:30am: Women’s B3 individual — Jamieson Leeson
Para-table tennis
- 1am: Mixed doubles XD7 round of 32 — Jessy Chen and Daniela di Toro, Christopher Addis and Hayley Sands
- 1:45am: Mixed doubles XD17 round of 32 — Trevor Hirth and Milly Tapper
- 3:15am: Mixed doubles XD17 round of 16 — Nathan Pellisier and Li Na Lei
Para-swimming
- 1:30am: Men’s S9 400m freestyle final — Tim Hodge and Brenden Hall
- 1:40am: Women’s S9 400m freestyle final — Lakeisha Patterson
- 2:36am: Men’s S14 100m butterfly final — Ben Hance
- 2:42am: Women’s S14 100m butterfly final — Paige Leonhardt
- 3:41am: Men’s S10 men’s 50m freestyle final — Thomas Gallagher and Rowan Crothers
- 3:47am: Women’s S10 50m freestyle final — Alexa Leary and Jasmine Greenwood
Wheelchair basketball
- 5:30am: Men’s preliminary round (Group B) – Australia vs Netherlands
Boccia: Aussie Michel competing in prelim round
One of Australia’s medal chances in Paris, Dan Michel, is competing in the preliminary round of the men’s BC3 individual event.
Michel (with ramp operator Ashlee Maddern) faces South Africa’s Karabo Morapedi (with ramp operator Matobako Ramochela)in his opening Pool A match.
The Australian won the 2022 world championship in the individual event.
We’ll keep you updated on how Michel fares.
Para archery: Three Australians in action
The men’s individual recurve open ranking round is currently underway featuring Taymon Kenton-Smith.
The women’s individual compound open ranking round includes Melissa-Anne Tanner and Ameera Lee.
They’re part of the largest Australian Para archery team in 40 years, with six competitors in total.
Tanner and Lee are both making their Paralympic debuts – aged 51 and 50 respectively.
ABC Sport’s Elizabeth Wright spoke to Lee earlier this year and found out about her incredible journey in the sport.
Para-cycling track: Perris puts down a marker in individual pursuit
Australia’s Kane Perris and pilot Luke Zaccaria have clocked 5:42.837 in the opening heat of themen’s B 4,000m individual pursuit.
Perris and Zaccaria finished ahead of Ghana’s Frederick Assor and Rudolf Mensah (pilot), who produced a time of 6:30.054.
It’s a waiting game now for the Aussies, as there are seven more heats before the make-up of the medal races is decided.
As we mentioned earlier, the riders with the two fastest times in qualifying will race for gold in the final at 1:13am (AEST).
The next two fastest in the qualifying round will face off for bronze at 12:59am (AEST).
It’s a busy Paralympics for the Perris family, with Kane’s older brother Chad competing in the para-athletics.
Chad Perris is competing in his third Paralympics. He won a bronze in the T13 100m at the 2016 Rio Games.
What are the key events still to come on day 1?
The swimming finals will get underway at 1:30am AEST, with a host of Australians featuring, including flagbearer Brenden Hall.
Jamieson Leeson and Dan Michel will compete in their respective BC3 individual preliminaries.
And for the early risers, the Rollers will begin their wheelchair basketball campaign against the Netherlands at 5:30am AEST.
The Rollers haven’t won a medal since London 2012, but have undergone some big changes including a new coach – Rollers legend Brad Ness, and they’ve been on a hot streak this year.
Para-cycling track: Perris getting ready to hit the velodrome
Australia’s Kane Perris is not far away from taking to the track in the qualifying round of the men’s B 4,000m individual pursuit.
Perris and pilot Luke Zaccaria are aiming to make the medal races, which will be contested tomorrow morning (AEST).
The riders with the two fastest times in qualifying will race for gold in the final, which will be held at 1:13am (AEST).
The next two fastest in the qualifying round will face off for bronze at 12:59am (AEST).
Daily Paralympics schedule
Hi Luke, I’m so excited for the paralympics! Will the ABC be publishing the schedule for Australian athletes and key events each day so I can know when to tune in? Thanks!
– beebling
Hi beebling – we will have a daily blog throughout the Paralympics, which will include an overview of all the Australian athletes competing on that day.
Wheelchair rugby: Steelers defeated by Great Britain
The Steelers have opened their Paralympic campaign with a tense 58-55 loss to defending champions Great Britain.
The game was still up for grabs in the final period, but the British showed cool nerves to hold on for the win.
Ryley Batt was the top try-scorer for the world champion Steelers with 36 for the game.
Aaron Phipps was superb for Great Britain, scoring 25 tries.
The Steelers will now turn their attention to their next Group B game against France on Saturday morning (AEST).
Great Britain plays Denmark on Friday night (AEST).
GO STEELERS!
OMG..I love wheelchair rugby aka murder ball..so intense..GO STEELERS!!!
– Vic in Vic
Vic in Vic is loving the Steelers, wheelchair rugby is always a crowd favourite at the Paralympics!
Para table tennis: Aussie women lose against France
Australia’s 11th seeds Dani di Toro and Hayley Sands have lost their women’s doubles round of 16 match to France’s seventh seeds Alexandra Saint-Pierre and Flora Vautier.
The French duo won 3 games to 0, 11-1, 11-4, 11-1.
Wheelchair rugby: Brits still lead Steelers
With five minutes left in the game, Great Britain still led the Steelers in their tight Paralympic opener.
Great Britain were ahead of the world champions 49-46.
Who will get the ‘W’?
Wheelchair rugby: Great Britain leads Steelers at final break
The Steelers will have to come from behind if they are to beat Great Britain in their Paralympic opener.
Great Britain, the defending Olympic champions, led the top-ranked Steelers 43-40 at the end of the third period.
Still plenty left in this game!
Wheelchair rugby: Steelers, Great Britain remain in tense encounter
With just over four minutes left in the third period, it was all level on the scoreboard between Australia and Great Britain in their opening game in Paris.
It was 35-35, as the final break approaches in what has been an engrossing contest.
Para-table tennis: Aussies di Toro and Sands begin campaign
Next up in the para-table tennis from an Australian perspective is Daniela di Toro and Hayley Sands in the women’s WD10 doubles.
Di Toro and Sands face France’s Alexandra Saint-Pierre and Flora Vautier in the round of 16.
Para-table tennis: French defeat Aussie duo
Well done to France’s Matéo Bohéas and Thomas Bouvais, who came out on top in the round-of-16 match against Australia’s Lin Ma and Nathan Pellissier in the men’s MD18 doubles.
The Aussies forced a fifth game but the French pair eventually won 7-11, 11-5, 11-6, 8-11, 11-3.
Wheelchair rugby: Steelers, Great Britain playing out a thriller
What a game we have on our hands!
At half-time, it’s Great Britain just ahead of the Steelers, leading 28-27.
The Steelers led for the first time in the game during the second period, but the British finished strongly to make sure they recaptured the lead.
Aussie great Ryley Batt is the leading scorer for the world champions with 17 tries.
Skipper Chris Bond has seven tries, while Beau Vernon (two) is also on the scoreboard.
For Great Britain, Aaron Phipps has scored the lion’s share of tries with 15 for the game so far.
Para-table tennis: French lead Aussies
Just an update from the round-of-16 match in the men’s MD18 doubles.
France’s Matéo Bohéas and Thomas Bouvais won the third game, 11-6, against Australia’s Lin Ma and Nathan Pellissier.
The French pair lead two games to one.
Wheelchair rugby: Not much separating Steelers and Great Britain
With five minutes remaining in the second period, it was Australia leading Great Britain 20-19.
The Steelers, the world number one, had edged ahead of their British opponents for the first time in the game.
Para-table tennis: Aussies win first set against French pair
It was a great start for Australians Lin Ma and Nathan Pellissier in the men’s MD18 doubles.
The Aussies won the first game against France’s Matéo Bohéas and Thomas Bouvais, 11-7, in the round-of-16 match.
But Bohéas and Bouvais struck back to claim the second game, 11-5.
Wheelchair rugby: Great Britain holds slender lead over Steelers
At the end of the first period, it’s Great Britain leading Australia 14-13.
The world champion Steelers beat the British defence with tries to star duo Ryley Batt (nine) and Chris Bond (four).
But the British lead, courtesy of tries to Aaron Phipps (seven) and Stuart Robinson (six).