China Dominates Early Paralympic Events as Track Field, Wheelchair Tennis Kick Off in Paris

Posted : 30 August 2024

The Paralympic track and field events kicked off at the Stade de France on Friday, while wheelchair tennis players began their matches at Roland Garros, marking the second day of competition in Paris. China, a dominant force in Paralympic sports, quickly rose to the top of the medals table after securing their fifth gold medal of the Games on the first day of athletics events. Zhou Xia claimed the women's T35 100m title for athletes with impaired coordination with a time of 13.58 seconds, adding to China's growing medal haul.

China's athletes are expected to further increase their gold count as they compete in swimming and track cycling later in the day. The nation’s strong performance continues to set the pace in the ongoing Games, showcasing their extensive preparation and talent across various sports.

At Roland Garros, despite overcast skies and rain, a sizable crowd, including a notable Israeli group, gathered at the Suzanne Lenglen court to cheer on Adam Berdichevsky. Berdichevsky defeated Italy's Luca Arca with a score of 6-2, 7-5. Celebrating his victory, Berdichevsky waved an Israeli flag around the court, joined by his wife and children in the stands.

In other notable achievements, India's top-ranked Paralympic badminton player Suhas Yathiraj advanced to the semi-finals of the SL4 singles category by defeating South Korea’s Shin Kyung-hwan in straight sets. Yathiraj, who has an ankle impairment affecting his mobility, is a strong contender in his event.

Friday also marked the beginning of Morteza Mehrzad’s quest for another gold medal in sitting volleyball. The towering Iranian, who stands at 8 feet 1 inch tall, will lead his team against Ukraine in the preliminary rounds. Iran has been a dominant force in the sport, having won three of the last four titles.

The French team, buoyed by their Olympic success, aims for a stronger performance than their 2021 Paralympics showing. On the opening day, Ugo Didier brought France their first gold of the Games with a win in the 400m freestyle S9 category, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of Leon Marchand’s Olympic triumph. Brazil's Gabrielzinho also shone by winning the men’s 100m backstroke S2 title. Meanwhile, Italy’s Francesco Bocciardo and Carlotta Gilli successfully defended their swimming titles, and China’s Zhangyu Li and Xiaomei Wang began their medal quest. Despite a setback for Britain’s Kadeena Cox, who crashed in the velodrome, the Paralympic Games continue to unfold with excitement and intense competition.

China Dominates Early Paralympic Events as Track Field, Wheelchair Tennis Kick Off in Paris

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