PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS

Wagner, Kunieda and Kamiji top world rankings
American and Japanese duo finish 2014 atop the wheelchair tennis world rankings.

Star performers shine at Wheelchair Fencing Grand Prix
There were few surprises as the year’s in-form athletes took titles at the final event of the year – the IWAS Wheelchair Fencing Grand Prix in Hong Kong.

Hannah Cockcroft aiming for triple world gold in 2015
British wheelchair racing ace is hoping to win the 100m, 200m and 800m T34 at October’s World Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Scotland to stage 2019 World Wheelchair Curling Championships
The event will be one of four major events Scotland will stage between 2016 and 2020.

ITTF announce Male and Female Para Star nominees
Six athletes and one coach from para-table tennis have been shortlisted for the awards which will be presented on 7 January 2015

No 10. Japan’s year to remember in wheelchair tennis
Kunieda and Kamiji finished the year as World No. 1’s in the men’s and women’s singles but also enjoyed great success in the doubles too.
Dutch 7-a-side football team targeting Rio 2016 spot
After finishing runners-up at this summer’s European Championships, the free-scoring Dutch team now aim to make it to the Paralympic Games.

Sir Philip Craven meets French President Hollande during Paris visit
French President was keen to learn more about the impact and legacy a Paralympic Games can have.

No. 11 Young para-alpine skiers win big in Sochi
Nearly half of all gold medallists in para-alpine skiing at Sochi 2014 were under the age of 23, showing the sport has a bright future ahead of it.

FEI elect new President and host awards ceremony
Belgian Ingmar De Vos is the new FEI President whilst Sydney Collier and her service dog Journey picked up the Against All Odds award.
Richard Browne named USATF Para-Athlete of the Year
London 2012 silver medallist picked up the award after a tremendous 2014 which saw him go undefeated and set a new 200m T44 world record.

No. 4 Petushkov shows impossible is nothing
Russian Nordic skier Roman Petushkov triumphed an unprecedented six times at his home Paralympic Winter Games at Sochi 2014.

NPC Sierra Leone develop strategic plan
Nine people gathered to take part in a workshop, where they began to develop the strategic plan for the country’s National Paralympic Committee.

No. 12 Amy Purdy raises profile of para-sport in USA
Paralympic bronze medallist Amy Purdy shot to fame in the USA in 2014, creating more awareness for the Paralympic Movement – an achievement marked in the IPC’s Top 50 Moments of 2014.

Selection process underway for Rio 2016 volunteers
More than 240,000 people applied for 70,000 positions, with strong interest from the USA, Russia, China and Great Britain.

Great results for Russia, Germany at alpine Europa Cup
Skiers have been competing in giant slalom events in Kuhtai, Austria, as they prepare for the 2015 Worlds.

Golden para-cycling success for Kiwis in Melbourne
Cyclists amassed vital ualifying points for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

British Paralympic Association celebrates 25 years
One of the IPC’s first NPCs also awarded a lifetime achievement award to Caz Walton.

Paralympic champions Redkozubov and Rothfuss claim Europa Cup wins
Skiers tackled the slalom on the first day of the IPC Alpine Skiing Europa Cup in Kuhtai, Austria on Friday (19 December).

IPC joins World Olympians Association’s #TargetEbola campaign
Paralympic Movement’s global governing body joins a growing list of sporting bodies backing the initiative