Paris 2024: Para judo begins as goalball and Para archery close on Day 8
French judoka Martinet one to watch as she promises to wow a home crowd at her sixth Paralympic Games Israel's women's and Ukraine and Japan's men's teams all reach goalball finals for the first time Para archers loose their last arrows at Invalides with the mixed team recurve finals 04 Sep 2024
Having passed the midway point of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, day eight gives us lots to be excited for as sitting volleyball and blind football reach semifinals and goalball moves to finals, while Para judo kicks off.
Here is everything you need to know about day eight.
Para judo kicks off at Champs de Mars arena
Para judo starts with an exciting line up of experienced judokas vying for the top podium places.
Ramona Brussig of Germany is the most successful female Para judoka, competing in her sixth Games and boasting two gold and two silver medals to date. She will try to add another medal to her collection in the -57kg J2 category.
On home soil, France's Sandrine Martinet is another standout name with experience on her side, aiming for her fifth medal. Despite this also being her sixth Games, Paris 2024 does create different stressors.
“We need to transcend that (pressure of competing at home) rather than let the stress make us tense," she said.
“The six Paralympics will help me manage that, and help me tell the youngsters, thanks to my experience, the little things that will help them manage that stress.”
Azerbaijan dominated the event at Tokyo 2020, winning six of the possible 13 gold medals. This Games, Ilham Zakiyev will be their one to watch, bringing his experience from five Games and looking to add to his two golds and two bronze medals.
Wave of new teams in goalball finals
As goalball moves to finals we will see three nations compete for a medal for the first time, alongside reigning women's champions Türkiye.
Ukraine beat Brazil to proceed to the men's gold medal game. After placing seventh at Tokyo 2020 this will be Ukraine's first time in a Paralympic final, facing the Japanese men's team, who are in the same situation having debuted at Tokyo 2020 and finished fifth.
"It would be the biggest achievement for our team and our sport. Our country would be proud of us. It is very important in this hard time for us," said Fedir Sydorenko of Ukraine.
Likewise, in the women's event, Israel are through to their first Paralympic Games goalball final after beating Canada in the quarters and China in the semifinals.
"It's a mix of emotions," Israel's Roni Ohayon said.
"I cried, I feel euphoria, I feel happy, I feel relieved. It feels so good. Everything else was a preview for this moment. From now, it's a new tournament. Every game is the game of our lives."
Israel lost at the quarterfinal stage at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 so this will be their first medal game.
Argentina attempt to unseat neighbouring Brazil
Brazil, who have never lost a blind football match the Paralympic Games, are the unsurprising favourites as we go into the semifinals for blind football.
Argentina, ranked No.1 by the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA), is chasing their first Paralympic gold to add to their two silver and two bronze medals, and aim to put an end to arch-rival Brazil's unbeaten 27-match run at the Games.
Colombia will also be trying to progress to the finals, as they take on France, who will be buoyed by the home crowd at Eiffel Tower Stadium. The semifinal spot is a dream for the debuting team, who hope to follow in the footsteps of their South American competitors.
Last team finals bring Para archery to a close
Mixed team recurve finals give Para archers a last chance for glory at Invalides, bringing eight days of competition to a close.
Having taken gold at Rio 2016 and bronze at Tokyo 2020, China's mixed team will be one to watch, featuring Gan Jun and Wu Chunyan.
