November 2014: What to watch in para-sport

November is set to be a bumper month for para-sport, with world and European championships taking place, as well as the first IPC Ice Sledge Hockey International Women’s Cup.

Wheelchair Curling Qualification Event

Lillehammer, Norway, will play host to the Wheelchair Curling Qualification Event between 1-6 November.

The competition features 12 teams, with the top teams to watch out for being Italy and Norway, who have finished fifth respectively at the last two Paralympic Winter Games.

The winner of the competition will qualify for the World Wheelchair Curling Championships in February 2015.

2014 UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Doubles Masters

This year’s wheelchair tennis Doubles Masters will take place between 5-9 November in Mission Viejo, California, USA.

It will be the 14th edition of the competition, with the world’s best stars set to be in attendance.

Japan’s Yui Kamiji and Great Britain’s Jordanne Whiley are hoping to retain their title and continue their record breaking year, after becoming the first non-Dutch pair to win all grand slam doubles titles in a calendar year.

Stephane Houdet and Gordon Reid, who won the title in 2013, have separated for this year’s competition, with Houdet teaming up with Belgium’s Joachim Gerard, whilst Reid will partner France’s Michael Jermeiasz.

Japan’s world No.1 Shingo Kunieda will partner South Africa’s Evans Maripa.

For more information, visit the ITTF website.

IPC Ice Sledge Hockey International Women’s Cup

The first ever women’s IPC Ice Sledge Hockey competition will take place in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, between 7-9 November.

Three teams will battle it out for the historic prize, with the USA facing off against Team Canada and a combined Team Europe.

For more information, visit the event homepage.

2014 Wheelchair Dance Sport European Championships

The 2014 season will be highlighted by the first European Championships since 2009 in Lomianki, Poland, between 8-9 November.

Featuring 150 athletes from 20 countries, the competition will take place at the Integracyjne Centrum Sportowo Dydaktyczne.

Russia will be hoping to dominate once more, after their impressive showing at the IPC Wheelchair Dance Sport Continents Cup in September.

For more information visit the 2014 Wheelchair Dance Sport European Championships event homepage.

IBSA Football-5-side World Championships

Twelve teams will battle it out in the biggest IBSA Football 5-a-side World Championships to date in Shibuya, Tokyo, between 16-24 November.

Brazil will undoubtedly be favourites, after their gold medal at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, and as current holders of the world title.

The only other side to have won the World Championships in its history are Argentina, and they will be keen to add a third world title to their name.

For more information, visit the IBSA Football 5-a-side World Championships website.

IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World Cup

Eger, Hungary, will play host to the final wheelchair fencing World Cup of the year between 20-23 November.

Chinese athletes will be eager to continue their dominance of the sport, after their impressive performance at the Incheon 2014 Asian Para-Games in South Korea.

They won a total of 18 out of the 24 titles available in Incheon, including seven men’s and 11 women’s titles.

2014 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Singles Masters

Japan’s stars of wheelchair tennis will be looking to continue their dominance at the 2014 wheelchair tennis singles masters in London, Great Britain, between 26-30 November.

World No.1 Kuneida will hope to retain his title and continue his incredible year, whilst compatriot Kamiji, who also won the 2013 title, will be looking to bounce back from her surprise defeat at the Asian Para-Games.

For more information, visit the Wheelchair Tennis Singles Masters website.