Paris 2024: Para canoe begins as first sitting volleyball medals decided on Day 9
Day 9 of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games features the start of the Para canoe competition and sitting volleyball medal matches, as well as thrilling wheelchair basketball semifinals 05 Sep 2024
There are just three days of competition left at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, but it just gets better and better.
Para canoe will finally get underway at the Vaires-sur-Marne Stadium and the first medals will be handed out in sitting volleyball. Will Morteza Mehrzadselakjani and the Iranian team win their third straight gold medal in the men’s tournament? We can’t wait to find out.
The lineups for the wheelchair basketball medal matches will be decided on Day 9, with the medal matches set for 7 and 8 September. At the Grand Palais, Thailand’s wheelchair fencing great Saysunee Jana will aim to win her third gold of the Paris 2024 Games.
Here is everything you need to know about day nine.
Para canoe gets underway at Vaires-sur-Marne Stadium
The final sport to start at Paris 2024, Para canoe action will get underway at the Vaires-sur-Marne Stadium on day nine. The first day will feature the heats for all 10 events before leading into two days of medals.
In total, there will be around 100 athletes showcasing their strength, technique and determination as they power to the finish line at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
"Our sport is super exciting, but it's over so fast. If we can create a bit more buzz around it, that would be really good,” said Australia’s Curtis McGrath, who aims to defend his two titles from Tokyo 2020.
First Paris 2024 gold medals in sitting volleyball
The men’s sitting volleyball final is a must-watch on day nine. Powerhouse Iran will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in a bid to win their third straight gold medal. Morteza Mehrzadselakjani, who is the tallest man in the tournament, is looking to power his team to another victory.
"We are not able to predict the final outcome of the competition. But we have to try to do our best as the next match is going to be against Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Iranian player Sadegh Bigdeli said.
"We'll see what will happen, but we will try to become the champions."
Germany and Egypt will play in the bronze medal match earlier in the day.
Full sitting volleyball programme
Finalists decided in wheelchair basketball
If you are a wheelchair basketball fan, day nine will be a big day, as the teams that will be playing in the women's final will be decided. The men’s semifinals already took place on day eight, with Great Britain and the USA advancing to the finals.
The women’s semis will be held in the afternoon on day nine. China will face the USA in the first match, followed by a faceoff between Canada and defending Paralympic champions Netherlands.
Full wheelchair basketball programme
Saysunee Jana targets Paris 2024 triple gold
In wheelchair fencing, Thailand’s Saysunee Jana is looking to win her third gold medal of Paris 2024, her sixth Paralympic Games. She will compete in her final individual event, the women’s epee category B, after finishing the event with bronze at Tokyo 2020.
“I have gained much experience during the past years," she said after winning her second gold on 4 September.
"Last time, in Tokyo 2020, I missed and only got (epee) bronze, but this year is my year to get gold."
In Paris, she has topped the podium in the women’s foil category B and women’s sabre category B.
Full wheelchair fencing programme
Will Diede de Groot defend the women’s singles title?
Diede de Groot, who has only lost two singles matches since Tokyo 2020, is looking to defend her women’s singles gold at the iconic Roland-Garros Stadium. She will face second-seeded Yui Kamiji of Japan, to whom she lost to in July this year.
The Netherlands’ de Groot and Aniek van Koot took silver behind Kamiji and Manami Tanaka in the women’s doubles on 5 September. Will de Groot have redemption in the singles?
