Memorable team performances of 2021

The year 2021 saw some teams scripting historical achievements while some traditional heavyweights went on to re-affirm their superiority. The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games were the only event for some of the sports in a year marred by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's a look at the five top team performances:

GREAT BRITAIN WHEELCHAIR RUGBY TEAM DOMINATE 

A 50-46 defeat to favourites United States in the preliminary round was a dampener but the Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby team came back strongly to clinch the gold, registering a stunning 54-49 victory over the USA in the final.

It was a historic win in many ways — first Wheelchair Rugby gold for GB at a World or Paralympic level; first European team to make the gold medal match; first Paralympic gold for GB in a team sport; and Kylie Grimes became the first woman to win Paralympic gold in the history of the sport.

Since its debut at the Paralympics in 2000 in Sydney, the USA, and Australia have been the most successful teams in the Games, winning two gold medals each with New Zealand bagging one. This year GB team joined the elite list.

Incidentally, it was the first-ever medal for Great Britain in Wheelchair Rugby.

For their maiden success in the Paralympics, the British Wheelchair Rugby team bagged the Best Team award at the 2021 Paralympic Sports Awards.

IRAN MEN'S SITTING VOLLEYBALL TEAM ON A ROLL

Iran were crowned men’s Sitting Volleyball champions for a record seventh time after overcoming the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC). Tokyo 2020 marked the first time since Atlanta 1996 that the gold medal match was not between the Asian team and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Morteza Mehrzadselakjani proved key to Iran’s success, scoring 28 points in the final.

Iran men maintained their invincibility clinching their seventh title, second in a row, after a 3-1 win over the RPC in Tokyo. The latter rallied back in the third set with a 25-19 win but couldn’t maintain the momentum, thereafter only to falter against the Iranians.

What sets the Iranian apart are their unity and determination to continue the momentum. Another reason for their success is years of meticulous training that goes into preparing the team. More and more training, that’s how the Iran team has picked up seven Paralympic titles making them the most successful nation in men’s Sitting Volleyball at Paralympics.

USA WOMEN'S SITTING VOLLEYBALL TEAM EXCEL

From almost missing the Games to defending the title, Tokyo 2020 was USA women's Sitting Volleyball team's most successful campaign in any event in recent history as it culminated in a 25-12, 25-20, 22-25, 25-19 win over arch-rivals China.

A resilient United States team left their coronavirus-hit preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics behind them to defend the women’s Sitting Volleyball title with a resounding 3-1 victory over China. The team had reached Tokyo minus two members, who had to miss the event as they had tested positive for COVID-19 but ended the year with a 10-1 win-loss record, the lone defeat coming against China in the league phase.

NETHERLANDS WOMEN'S WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL TEAM IMPRESS

The Netherlands women's Wheelchair Basketball team created history at the Tokyo Paralympic Games when it won its first Paralympic gold medal, outlasting China 50-31 to gain revenge for a preliminary round loss against the same opponents.

After collecting one silver and four bronze medals at previous Games, including bronze at London 2012 and Rio 2016, the Netherlands desperately wanted to add Paralympic gold to their 2018 World Championship title.

They retained the core of their team that won the World Championship in 2018, added a few young players, and put in place a professionalised programme for five years. That helped them win every game in Tokyo by double digits, apart from a loss to China in the preliminary rounds.

They ended the year by topping the standings in the 2021 European Championship for Women, Division A in Madrid with an all-win record and are looking in prime for another successful year in 2022.

MOROCCO MEN'S 5-A-SIDE FOOTBALL TEAM CREATE HISTORY

Though Brazil is the dominant force in Five-a-side Football and deservedly won the gold by beating arch rivals Argentina in the final, Morocco made history at the Tokyo Paralympic Games by winning a memorable bronze medal.

Five years ago at Rio 2016, Morocco finished last on their Paralympic debut. But the African Champions made several historic marks at Tokyo 2020. They progressed to their first Paralympic semi-final thanks to Zouhair Snisla’s four goals in a 2-1 defeat to Argentina, a 2-0 triumph over Thailand and a 1-1 draw against Spain.

A slender defeat to defending champions Brazil granted Morocco a chance to achieve their first Paralympic podium finish in the bronze medal match against China. Snisla fired four goals past the Asian Champions to achieve Morocco’s first Paralympic bronze and finish as the top goal scorer.