Manchester Paralympic World Cup
The kicks off in Manchester on Monday. 360 athletes from 40 countries are competing in the four events: track cycling, swimming, wheelchair basketball and athletics.
Some of the headlines ...
This week's big shocker is that the near-unbeatable Canadian wheelchair athlete Chantal Petitclerc has due to sickness.
Those of you who missed uber-Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson at last week's London Marathon will be pleased to hear that her absence wasn't due to illness, but because this year's training had been geared towrds the shorter distances she'll be competing in at next week's games. She's won the London Marathon six times before though, so we can perhaps let her off? The British winner of the men's marathon will be featuring too in the 100, 200 and 1500 metres wheelchair racing. Nineteen year-old Shelly Woods, who came second in the women's marathon, will be competing in the 200 and 800 metres.
Britain's wheelchair basketball team will be competing, but now without Ade Adepitan, who recently retired in order to put in more time into dancing on 91Èȱ¬ ONE (we made that last bit up, though it could be true).
To stay up to date with the Paralympic World Cup, keep looking in on the 91Èȱ¬ Disability Sport website. Sunday Grandstand will be at the athletics events on 7 May, with live coverage plus highlights from the week.
Comments
Sorry to be a stickler, but you made the common mistake of calling it 'Britain's wheelchair basketball team' when there are two: the women's team and the men's team. I know it doesn't seem like a big deal, but it's a subtle jab at the women, as if they're not the real deal. All you need to do is get used to referring to it as the British men's wheelchair basketball team...one little word can make all the difference. (On the plus side, I like the coverage of women's wheelchair racing!) Thanks!
Thats the thing there is TWO teams, as a female player it is already hard enough to get the recognition. Which is the same across all sports.Disability and womens sport in general needs a boost from the likes of the 91Èȱ¬.Lets hope things will move forward. Good luck to the Guys and Gals in Manchester
Just thought I would let peeps know the women have won their first 2 games and the men their first game. Results can be found on the visa paralympic world cup site.
I would congratulate all the sportsmen who will participate in this mega event.
cheers to all