PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS

European women retain table tennis titles in Italy
Several of the top female table tennis players held onto their European titles, though a lot of the top-ranked men were upset in the final rounds.

Ugur Erdener re-elected World Archery President
At the World Archery Congress, in addition to elections, IPC Governing Board Member Rita van Driel received a prestigious award.

Sophie Pascoe in world record breaking form…again
Swimmer follows up IPC Athlete of the Month win with two short-course world records at New Zealand nationals.

Lignano 2013: Five faces to watch
The ITTF Para-Table Tennis Championships will take place from 27 September – 4 October in Lignano, Italy.

Sochi 2014 Paralympic tickets go on sale
The Sochi 2014 Games will be held from 7-16 March, with 72 medals being contested across five sports.

Yu Chui Yee: I began fencing because of handsome guys
Hong Kong’s seven-time wheelchair fencing Paralympic gold medallist makes her IPC blog debut, explaining how she got involved in the sport.

Great Britain’s Ricky Balshaw back in business
After smashing his ribs, bruising his kidney and dislocating his knee, Ricky Balshaw is ready to turn the page and start his road to Rio 2016.

Final few days to feedback on IPC Classification Code
Athletes, National Paralympic Committees and International Federations, officials, classifiers, researchers and anyone with an interest in classification are encouraged to give their views.

WADA publishes 2014 Prohibited List
Here’s an overview of noteworthy changes to the List of Prohibited Substances and Methods in sport.

IWAS President Paul DePace to serve four more years
Estonia, Libya and Haiti will join IWAS, while wheelchair fencer Radoslaw Stanczuk received one of the organisation’s most prestigious awards.

APC-ABU create historic broadcast partnership in Asia
This partnership will ensure major para-sport events in Asia receive television coverage, including the 2014 Incheon Para-Games.
Call for nominations to IPC Athletes’ Council
National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) have until 3 December to nominate a candidate to represent their athlete voice in the Movement.

Five powerlifters with potential
Five athletes who could be future medal hopes at the 2014 IPC Powerlifting World Championships in Dubai and at Rio 2016.
Canada aiming to get more kids ‘into the game’
Canadian Paralympic Committee launches fund to support children who are financially disadvantaged and living with a disability to take part in sport.

NBC and USOC buy media rights to Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016
NBC and NBCSN to provide unprecedented 116 hours of coverage for next two Paralympic Games

Holger Nikelis motivated for Euros by past failures
Despite winning at London 2012, Germany’s Holger Nikelis is still looking to regain his men’s Class 1 table tennis European title.

British Para-Swimming unveils new head coach
Former swimmer Rob Greenwood announced as coach who will lead highly successful British squad into Rio 2016.

US athletes ‘stoked’ for NBC to show Paralympics
Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 Paralympic hopefuls from America react to the news that NBC’s networks will be broadcasting the Games.

British Cycling searching for female para-cyclists
British Cycling will hold talent assessment days in October to find the next crop of the nation’s top female para-cyclists.

Richard Whitehead finishes epic race across Britain
200m T42 Paralympic champion completes 977 mile run from John O’Groats, Scotland, to Land’s End in Cornwall, hitting target of 40 marathons in 40 days.