Day 11 review: Shingo Kunieda brings Japan gold on penultimate day of action

The penultimate day of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games saw several sports wrap up action, with badminton awarding its first gold medallists; Brazil, Iran, and the Netherlands celebrating team victories; and Japan’s Shingo Kunieda rightfully shedding tears of joy with gold on his home court.

Here are some of the main highlights from Day 11 (4 September): 

SHINGO KUNIEDA, KING OF THE COURT

One of Japan’s Paralympic pride and joy Shingo Kunieda did not disappoint on home court. The multiple Grand Slam winner continued to etch his name into the wheelchair tennis greats after winning his third Paralympic title in the men’s singles. 

It took less than an hour for Kunieda to defeat the Netherlands’ Tom Egberink and add to the back-to-back titles he won at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, and doubles title from Athens 2004. The home victory was also redemption from not making the podium at Rio 2016. 

Australia's Dylan Alcott defended his quad singles Paralympic after beating the Netherlands Sam Schroeder in straight sets.

BADMINTON BRILLIANCE

Malaysia’s Cheah Liek Hou claimed the first gold medal in Paralympic badminton after besting Indonesia’s Dheva Anrimusthi in straight games in the men’s SU5 category. The victory tasted even sweeter for Cheah in light of his semi-final loss to  the Indonesian at the 2019 World Championships, which ended his run of three straight world titles in men’s singles.

Japan’s Satomi Sarina became the first female player to win Paralympic gold following a three-game thriller against Thailand’s Sujirat Pookkham in the women’s singles WH1 final.

TEAM EFFORTS

The Netherlands women's wheelchair basketball team made history by bringing home the Paralympic gold medal for the first time in the sport after dominating China 50-31. It was history for China as well, who had not made a single Paralympic finals at a Games until Tokyo. 

The Brazilian football 5-a-side team successfully won their fifth consecutive Paralympic title as Morocco also made history in the bronze medal match. 

Replaying the final of Athens 2004, and the gold medal matches at Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, 2019 American Championships and 2018 World Championships, Brazil and Argentina met anew at Tokyo 2020. 

After a scoreless first half, Brazil’s Nonato ended the drought at 32 minute by a solo dribble through Argentina’s outfield players and a left foot toe-poke into the net and secured the 1-0 victory.  

Iran once again proved they are the undisputed kings of the sitting volleyball courts after a resounding 4-0 victory over RPC. It marked their seventh Paralympic title. 

PADDLING TO GLORY

Canoe competition closed out in fitting fashion as the sport’s most popular athlete Curtis McGrath earned his second gold of the Games in the men’s VL3 competition, and the third of his career. After defending his Rio 2016 gold medal in the KL2 event on Friday, the Australian became the first canoe sprint athlete to win two golds in one Games.

Germany’s Edina Mueller and former London 2012 wheelchair basketball champion won the KL1 event, improving on the silver medal she claimed at Rio. 

A new face to the canoe scene and former bull rider Fernando Rufino of Brazil won the men’s VL2. Meanwhile, Charlotte Henshaw and Laura Sugar won gold in the KL2 and KL3 respectively for Great Britain. 

OWNING THE SHOOTING RANGE

India continued to amaze at Tokyo 2020, this time with 19-year-old Manish Narwal. The teenage talent won a dramatic P4(mixed 50m pistol SH1) final in which the lead changed hands several times. In the final round, Narwal found himself challenging Singhraj for the gold, and it was Narwal who captured his first Paralympic gold medal. India now have five medals from the range, after having never won a shooting medal before the 2020 Paralympics.

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED

Italy's Ambra Sabatini smashed the world 100m record to lead an Italian clean sweep as the final night of track action ended in spectacular fashion on Saturday. The 19-year-old triumphed in the women’s T63 final just two years after her left leg was amputated above the knee following a collision on her scooter.

Taekwondo concluded its Paralympic debut by crowning a pair of Paralympic champions in Uzbekistan’s Guljonoy Naimova in the women’s up to 58kg K44 and Iran’s Asghar Aziziaghdam in the men’s over 75kg K44.

In archery, the RPC’s Margarita Sidorenko and Kirill Smirnov beat a pair from Italy to the recurve mixed team title in a tie-break, winning a battle of surprise finalists as the archery competitions at Tokyo 2020 were brought to a close. The victory and medal vault the RPC up to fourth in the medal table for archery at the Games.