Monthly preview: April 2017

The last major winter sports competition will take place with the World Para Ice Hockey Championships. Also do not miss two World Major Marathons happening this month.

Gangneung 2017 World Para Ice Hockey Championships A-Pool

These World Championships, held 11-20 April, is a key qualifier for PyeongChang 2018, as the top five will advance directly to the Paralympic Winter Games. All games will be shown live at the Gangneung 2017 website.

African Para Taekwondo Open

The second edition of this competition will be held 1 April in Kigali, Rwanda. Keep an eye on Morocco’s Mohammed Aatif in the men’s under 75kg K44.

Boston Marathon; London Marathon

The Abbott World Marathon Majors will have two events this month. The USA’s Tatyana McFadden and Switzerland’s’ Marcel Hug lead the way in the men and women’s wheelchair racing series. The Boston Marathon will be held 17 April, and the London Marathon will follow on 23 April. More information is available at WorldMajorMarathons.com.

World Para Athletics Grand Prix

The second and third events of the series will be held in Tunis, Tunisia, from 13-15 April. It then moves to Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 21-23 April. These will be important stepping stones toward the World Championships in July.

PTT Oceania Regional Championships

The first of four table tennis regional Championships will be from 13-16 April in Suva, Fiji. Australia’s Samuel von Einem broke out at Rio 2016, as the 21-year-old captured silver in the men’s class 11 to highlight his Paralympic debut.

BISFed Regional Opens

Three Boccia International Sports Federation (BISFed) regional Opens will be held in April. The first will be the European Open from 13-20 April in Saint Cugat, Spain. Competition simultaneously will be held from 14-21 April in Dubai, United Arab Emirates for the Asian Open. Later in the month, Montreal, Canada, wills host the Americas Open from 27-30 April.

World Para Swimming World Series

Swimmers will continue their preparations for the World Championships in July with two World Series meets happening this month. Sao Paulo, Brazil, will bring together some of the top swimmers from 21-23 April, while Sheffield, Great Britain, will welcome competition from 27-30 April.

Szczecin 2017 World Shooting Para Sport Grand Prix

The second competition of the season will be from 24-29 April in Szczecin, Poland. Air events are on the programme.

Uganda Para Badminton International 2017

The second badminton event of the year will be held in Kampala, Uganda, from 25-30 April, allowing athletes to get more competition in ahead of November’s World Championships.

World Para Dance Sport - Cujik

Dancers will open the year at the Cuijk Para Dance Sport event, from 15-16 April in the Netherlands.