It could be a soggy start for wheelchair tennis at the iconic Roland-Garros, with showers forecast for day two of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Either way, the competition is set to feature exciting matches and rising stars.

The journey begins with the preliminary rounds.

The men’s singles draw appears to be still open. Tokyo gold medallist Shingo Kunieda, considered the most successful wheelchair tennis player of all time, has announced his retirement in 2023.

Meanwhile, Dutch superstar Diede de Groot is competing for two consecutive Paralympic gold medals in the women’s singles.

South Africans Donald Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole are expected to provide excitement in their match against Chileans Francisco Cayulef and Diego Perez on Friday.

Ramphadi had a great 2023, winning his first Grand Slam doubles title in Paris.

He also climbed into the world rankings of the top five quad singles players and hopes to impress on his Paralympic debut.

In the women’s doubles, American Dana Mathewson and Maylee Phelps will compete against Japanese Momoko Ohtani and Saki Takamuro.

Mathewson was the singles and doubles champion at the 2023 Parapan American Games. Paris is her third Paralympic Games.

Complete wheelchair tennis program

Medal win in Para-athletics

On Friday, 14 medal events are scheduled at the Stade de France, where the biggest Paralympic sport, Para-athletics, gets underway.

The first event of the day promises to be a great success.

In the women’s discus throw (F55), the last three major championships have seen different gold medal winners.

China’s Dong Feixia is the reigning Paralympic champion. But Mexico’s Rosa Maria Guerrero Cazares is in top form after winning the 2023 World Championships in the French capital.

Colombia’s Erica Maria Castano Salazar won the 2024 World Championships in Kobe, Japan.

In the men’s 5000m T11, Brazilian Yeltsin Jacques wants to continue his winning streak.

Jacques topped the rankings at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and set a new world record at Kobe 2024.

Tunisia’s Raoua Tlili is chasing more bling in the women’s shot put F41. The world record holder (10.55m) won gold in Rio and Tokyo and also in Kobe.

Asila Mirzayorova of Uzbekistan is the favorite in the women’s T11 long jump, as she became world champion in Paris 2023 and Kobe 2024 in succession.

Brazil’s Silvania Costa, gold medalist at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 and world record holder, failed to qualify for Paris.

Full Para-athletics program

Row, row, row your boat

Reigning Paralympic champion Birgit Skarstein from Norway is a major contender in the PR1 women’s single sculls.

For the past 10 years, she has finished first in every world championship she has competed in.

Israel’s Moran Samuel has already finished ahead of the Norwegian twice this season, which could give her a mental boost in Paris and help her improve on her silver in Tokyo.

In the men’s PR1 skiff, all eyes are on Ukrainian Paralympic champion Roman Polianskyi, but Benjamin Pritchard from Great Britain and Giacomo Perini from Italy can also put him to the test.

Complete Para rowing program

Paracycling adds excitement

On the first day of the competition, world records were continually being broken at the Vélodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.

Is there more to come on day two?

Para-cyclists hope to once again challenge for eight medal events.

Spaniard Alfonso Cabello Llamas, who won gold in Tokyo, remains in contention with Britain’s Jody Cundy, who settled for silver in the men’s C4-5 1000m time trial at the last Games.

Australia’s 44-year-old Emily Petricola hopes to defend her gold medal in Tokyo in the women’s C4 3000m individual pursuit.

She is the world record holder in this event.

American Shawn Morelli, Canadian Keely Shaw and her compatriot Meg Lemon will do everything they can to get on the podium.

Full program for the Para-cycling track

Full program and results