Recapping the month in para-sport: November 2015

A recap of all major para-sport events that took place in November 2015. 01 Dec 2015
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Man in wheelchair holds woman in air while spinning wheelchair.

The Philippines’ Rhea Marquez and Jun Julius Obero are the reigning world champions in the combi freestyle class 2

ⒸDS Photo Dance Sport
By IPC

IPC Wheelchair Dance Sport World Championships

The Philippines’ Rhea Marquez and Jun Julius Obero pulled the biggest surprise at the 2015 IPC Wheelchair Dance Sport World Championships, which concluded on 8 November in Rome, Italy. The duo were crowned the combi freestyle class 2 world champions, spoiling the gold-medal streak of Russia’s Galina Ryzhkova and Viacheslav Osipov. Ryzhkova still had a successful Championships, winning three titles of the four she competed in.

UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Doubles Masters

The best wheelchair doubles tandems hit the courts one last time this year at the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) year-end Championships, which took place 3-7 November in Mission Viejo, USA. Nick Taylor and David Wagner won their ninth quad doubles title, while the Netherlands’ Jiske Griffioen and Aniek van Koot clinched their second Doubles Masters women’s title. France’s Michael Jeremiasz and Great Britain’s Gordon Reid claimed their first men’s Doubles Masters title together.

International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Goalball Asia/Pacific Championships

The Japanese women’s goalball team defeated China 1-0 for the gold medal on 12 November in Hangzhou, China. But China found a victory in the men’s side, as they defeated Iran 8-4 in the final.

Women’s European Championships (sitting volleyball)

Ukraine defeated Russia in five sets to capture gold in the 2015 ParaVolley Europe Women’s Sitting Volleyball Championships, which closed on 14 November in Podcetrtek, Slovenia.

Bangkok 2015 Asian Para Championships

Iran’s Zahra Nemati collected a quota space for her country for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games after winning the recurve women’s open competition in Bangkok, Thailand, held 11-19 November. Nemati had already qualified a Rio 2016 Olympic space for Iran at the able-bodied Asian Championships, in the same venue, preceding the para-event.

IPC Powerlifting European Open Championships

Azerbaijan’s Elshan Huseynov escaped near defeat to grab a world record at the 2015 IPC Powerlifting European Open Championships, held 24-28 November in Eger, Hungary. The 2013 European champion trailed Greek world champion Pavlos Mamalos throughout the men’s up to 107kg. But Huseynov went for broke in the fourth round and successfully added 1kg onto his 242kg previous best. Complete recaps can be found at the event website.

IBSA Judo European Championships

Ukraine’s Inna Cherniak was among the highlights at the European Championships, winning gold in the women’s under 57kg event on held 27-30 November in Odivelas, Portugal. She also helped Ukraine win team gold to wrap up the competition.

IPC Shooting World Cup

In P4 (mixed 50m pistol SH1) South Korea’s Chul Park, Sungwon Jang and Young Bae Kim stormed to a new world record of 1591 in the P4 (mixed 50m pistol SH1) on the final day of the IPC Shooting World Cup in Fort Benning, USA, held 3-7 November. The World Cup was the last opportunity for athletes to obtain quota spots for their countries at Rio 2016.

World Wheelchair-B Curling Championships

Norway defeated South Korea 7-5 for the gold medal. Both countries qualified for the World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2016 after winning their semi-final games however.

IPC Snowboard World Cup

The first of eight World Cups of the season kicked off in Landgraaf, the Netherlands, from 19-20 November, alongside a Europa Cup on 18 November. Dutch riders Chris Vos and Lisa Bunschoten, and the USA’s Michael Minor all left with double gold.

IPC Alpine Skiing Europa Cup

A dead-heat between Dutch skier Jeroen Kampschreur and Germany’s Georg Kreiter highlighted the last day of the IPC Alpine Skiing Europa Cup in Landgraaf, the Netherlands, on 20 November. The pair went head-to-head in the slalom men’s sitting, and both skiers finished with a combined time of 1:25.13 to share the gold medal.