PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS

Road to Rio begins with European Championship draw
Worcester Cathedral will stage the event on Friday 30 January as 20 teams start their preparations for Rio 2016 qualification.

Experts meet in Amsterdam to discuss VI classification
The IBSA organised meeting aimed develop the components of a sport specific classification system under the new IPC Classification Code.

Houdet hopes it will be fourth time lucky against Kunieda
Frenchman who came within two points of winning five years ago hopes to beat the Japanese world No.1 in Saturday’s Australian Open final.
Famous Lithuanians try goalball ahead of July’s Euros
Olympians, celebrities and politicians take part in public goalball event to promote July’s European Championships which will take place in Kaunas.

“Para-badminton is its own best advertisement,” says BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer
BWF President gives his reaction to para-badminton’s inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games ahead of Saturday's meeting to decide the final sports.

Austria and Finland to face-off for B-Pool slot
The two C-Pool teams will clash in Helsinki, Finland, for a coveted place in March’s World Championships.

Irish Paralympic medallist O’Neill retires
Ireland Catherine O’Neill who competed in three Paralympic Games has called time on her successful career.

Russian skiers dominate at Cable 2015
Andrew Soule and Oksana Masters also win two medals for the host’s USA.

World Cup speed races decided
Double victory for Marie Bochet as skiers complete two downhill races with just one month until the 2015 Worlds.

Cross-country sprint comes to Cable
Tatyana McFadden will try to grab the latest medals for the hosts and Sweden’s Zebastian Modin is on the hunt for his first World title.