What to watch: November 2015

IPC Wheelchair Dance Sport World Championships

The sport wraps up its season in Rome, Italy, when the World Championships take place 6-8 November. The competition is expected to attract more than 150 athletes from nearly 25 countries. South Korea’s Youngho Lee is among those to watch as he tops the combi Latin class 2 and the duo standard class 1. More information on Rome 2015 can be found on the event website.

Para World Sailing Championships

This is the finals qualification regatta for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Seven spots in the 2.4mR, five in the SKUD18 and six in the Sonar will be decided between 24 November - 3 December in Melbourne, Australia. Keep an eye on Great Britain’s London 2012 gold medallist Helena Lucas in the 2.4mR and Australia’s duo of Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch in the SKUD18. Visit the event website for more information on the 2015 Para World Sailing Championships.

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 for doubles, which takes place on 3-7 November in Mission Viejo, USA. The USA’s Nick Taylor and David Wagner will have home support in the quads division.

International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Africa - Wheelchair Basketball Championships

The final men and women’s slots for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will be decided in Algiers, Algeria, where the Africa Championships take place 30 October – 8 November. Only one of the six men's teams will head to Rio 2016, with Algeria as the men’s defending champion. For the first time, a women's tournament will decide which country will be the first to represent Africa in a Paralympic Games. Follow the IWBF’s Twitter handle for updates on the Africa Championships.

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

The final remaining slots for goalball will be decided this month. The Asia/Pacific Championships will be held 5-13 November in Hangzhou, China. Defending women’s champion China will look for a return to the Paralympic Games and an upgrade from their Paralympic silver medal. On the men’s side, China will have to get past Iran and Japan, who fought in the gold-medal game. The African Championships will take place 20-30 November in Algiers, Algeria.

Para-Canoe Asian Championships

Held 4-7 November in Palembang, Indonesia, the Championships will also serve as a qualifier for Rio 2016, where the sport will make its Paralympic debut The competition follows August’s World Championships in Italy.

Women’s European Championships (sitting volleyball)

No. 2 Ukraine holds the highest ranking entering the European Championships, which run 7-15 November in Podcetrtek, Slovenia. Eight teams will hit the courts, with Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia and Germany in pool-A. Russia, Finland, the Netherlands and Ukraine comprise the pool-B. Visit paravolley.eu’s website for more information on the Women’s European Championships.

Bangkok 2015 Asian Para Championships

Held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 11-19 November, the Championships is one of the last few remaining tournaments to qualify for Rio 2016. The top three individual finishers in the men’s W1, compound open and recurve, women’s compound and recurve will win one Rio 2016 qualification spot for their country. The top individual finisher in the women’s W1 at each Paralympic qualifying event will win one qualification spot for their country.

IPC Powerlifting European Open Championships

The European Championships will serve as a key qualification stop for Rio 2016, and will be held in Eger, Hungary, from 24-28 November.

Around 230 athletes from 44 countries will commence in Eger, with Great Britain’s world champion Ali Jawad among those to watch in the men's up to 59kg category. Visit the event website for more information on the IPC Powerlifting European Open Championships.

IBSA Judo European Championships

The Ukrainian women boast three defending world champions in Inna Cherniak (under 57kg), Iryna Husieva (under 63kg) and Nataliya Nikolaychyk (under 52kg)heading to Odivelas, Portugal, for the European Champonships (25-30 November). On the men’s side, Azerbaijan’s Bayram Mustafayev (under 66kg) and Ramil Gasimov (under 73kg) return with world titles and look to represent their countries.

2nd Belgium Open; China Open

Following the European Championships in October, athletes will continue to work and stay in form at the Belgium Open held 30 October -3 November in Sint Niklaas. The China Open follows later in the month (19-25 November) in Beijing.

IPC Shooting World Cup

The last opportunity for athletes to obtain quota spots for their countries at Rio 2016 takes place 3-7 November in Fort Benning, USA. Around 180 athletes from 48 countries are in the US for the season finale, including Slovakian world champion Veronika Vadovicova. For more information, visit IPC Shooting’s website.

IPC Snowboard World Cup

The first of eight World Cups of the season kicks off in Landgraaf, the Netherlands, from 19-20 November, alongside a Europa Cup on 18 November. Visit IPC Snowboard’s website for more information.

IPC Alpine Skiing Europa Cup

The Northern Hemisphere season gets underway, also in Landgraaf, from 19-20 November. The first of a series of continental Cups will take place on the indoor slopes of SnowWorld. For more information visit IPC Alpine Skiing’s website.