PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS

Vergeer, Pistorius discuss future of Paralympic Games
Wheelchair tennis gold medallist Esther Vergeer and blade runner Oscar Pistorius shared their views last week on what’s next for the Paralympic Movement.
No. 37: Argentina’s rising wheelchair tennis star
Gustavo Fernandez, 18, beat three of the world’s top four players at the Japan Open in May, making for the No. 37 moment of 2012.

No. 38: Belgium’s George pulls in double surprise
Equestrian rider Michèle George won two surprise golds at London 2012, making for the No. 38 moment of the year in Paralympic sport.

Landgraaf spells trouble for Thursday’s victors
In a reversal of fortunes, three of Thursday’s IPC Alpine Skiing gold medallists failed to finish in a day at SnowWorld in Landgraaf, the Netherlands.

No. 39: Russia dominate IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup
Last season, Russia dominated the World Cup rankings to come in as the No. 39 moment of 2012 after taking seven of 12 trophies in biathlon and cross-country.

Ice sledge hockey growing triple-fold
In the last 16 years eight countries have been added to the ice sledge hockey World Championship programme.

No. 40: Japan triumph in sudden-death throw
The Japan-Sweden women’s goalball semi-final plunged into sudden death during the Paralympic Games at the Copper Box, making it the No. 40 moment of 2012.

Murphy and Mentel claim first snowboard victory
The road to Sochi has already begun with snowboarders and alpine skiers picking up their first IPCAS points of the season, getting them one step closer to qualifying for the winter Paralympics.