Around The Games: Pickard and Twomey win brilliant bronze

ParalympicsGB athletes claimed six medals on an action-packed opening day in Paris.

Among them were Fliss Pickard and Bly Twomey, whose stunning para table tennis bronze leads our first ‘Around the Games’ review of Paris 2024…

Pickard and Twomey earn magnificent bronze

Fliss Pickard hailed 14-year-old Bly Twomey as ‘a little legend’ after the pair teamed up to win WD14 bronze on the first day of competition.

Despite leading their semi-final with a strong first set, the pair lost out 3-1 against China’s Huang Wenjuan and Jin Yucheng.

The result confirmed Pickard and Twomey as one of two sets of bronze medallists, as is tradition in Para table tennis.

Twomey said: “I’m really proud to get a medal at my first Paralympic Games and it means a lot to be doing it at 14.”

Pickard added: “My first Paralympic experience has lived up to my expectations and more. To think I’m here and a Paralympic medallist is unbelievable.”

Winning a bronze wasn’t the end of the night for Twomey, who returned to the table to win her XD17 round of 16 match 3-0 with partner Joshua Stacey.

Strong start to boccia group stage

ParalympicsGB continued their strong start on the Boccia courts with another three wins in the opening matches this afternoon.

Stephen Mcguire began his individual BC4 campaign with a decisive 8-0 win against Malaysia’s Abdul Razzaq Abdul Rahman in Pool C.

“I’m delighted,” he said. It gives me bags of confidence and it’s what I’m looking for really, is the challenge as well. Abdul put a few good angles on, I had to solve a few problems so I’m delighted with that.”

In the women’s individual BC2 competition, Claire Taggart also secured an opening win with a 10-1 victory over Ecuador’s Joselyn Leon while Kayleigh Haggo lost 3-1 to Jeong Soyeong of South Korea.

Sally Kidson finished Britain’s night with a 5-1 win in her individual BC3 competition against Brazil’s Evelyn Oliveira.

“I’m absolutely buzzing,” she said. “It means a lot to win against an opponent of that calibre and twice as much to do it at a Paralympics.”

They will all return to the court tomorrow to continue the group stages of competition.

Pine Paterson and Macqueen look promising

The Para Archery team enjoyed a strong start as they took to the historic Invalides for the ranking round competition, deciding their matches in the rest of the competition.

Jodie Grinham qualified in fourth while teammate Phoebe Pine Paterson ranked seventh with a season’s best score in the women’s individual compound competition.

In the men’s individual compound competition, Stephen Macqueen may have been nervous but it didn’t show as he also recorded a season’s best to qualify in sixth.

He said: “It’s the biggest crowd that any of us have shot in front of. Its going to be pretty special.

“And to have the family out there is going to be pretty cool.”

With a personal best score, Victoria Kingstone also finished sixth in the Women’s individual W1 competition.

“I’m really happy to get a new international PB on the biggest stage.

“You always want to keep to what you’ve been doing in training but to actually do better is a pleasant surprise.” She said ahead of her round of eight match on Saturday.

Shephard and Coombs have work to do

Jack Shephard and Krysten Coombs both lost their opening matches as they started their SH6 singles campaigns.

Shephard was beaten 17-21, 14-21 by China’s Lin Naili in Group C was beaten 13-21, 21-19, 15-21 by top seed Chu Man Kai.

Coombs fed off the crowd throughout his match: “I’m buzzing really, just to be out here with that crowd was just amazing.

“The game was close and for that to be my first game out here in Paris was awesome.

“I’ve got another group game tomorrow and I can’t wait for that now.”