Around The Games: Wheelchair rugby stars set up semi-final with USA

ParalympicsGB’s wheelchair rugby squad silenced a home crowd in Paris by beating France 50-49 to set up a semi-final against USA on Sunday night.

Following victories over Australia and Denmark over the opening two days, the in-form side made it three from three as they blocked out the noise at the Grand Palais Ephemere - helped by their meticulous pre-match preparation.

“We put people in the crowd last night to find out what it was going to be like, we had our mechanic and S&C coach recording stuff so we had an idea of the cheers and the boos,” said Aaron Phipps.

“When we threw away that turnover at the end, it got very noisy. But at the end, they were clapping us and saying well done, which is how it should be.”

Reigning champion Smith through to knockouts

On the boccia court, reigning champion David Smith sealed his spot in the men’s BC1 quarter-finals with a 4-1 victory over Daniel Perez of the Netherlands.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve cruised into the quarter-finals,” he said. “As you can see at this level everyone is good and I’ve got to be at my best every game to have a chance. I’m not taking anything for granted.”

Stephen McGuire is through to the last four in the men’s BC4 competition after a 6-1 win over Hong Kong’s Yuk Wing Leung, who won gold in Rio and also medalled in Tokyo, in the quarter-finals.

“This is probably up there with one of the best games I’ve ever played, the best results I’ve ever had,” he said.

“This one and probably the world championship final that I won in 2016. This certainly ranks as one of the best.”

Claire Taggart overcame butterflies which felt more like a ‘swarm of wasps in my belly’ to also reach the semi-finals, beating Hiu Lam Yeung 3-2 in the women’s BC2 competition, while Patrick Wilson plays his men’s BC3 quarter-final on Sunday after a 9-0 group stage win over South Africa’s Karabo Morapedi.

Coombs and Choong progress

Krysten Coombs and Rachel Choong joined Daniel Bethell in the badminton knockout stages after victories in their final group games.

After winning bronze in this event in Tokyo three years ago, Coombs is into the last eight once again as he looks to return to the podium.

And he got there by getting the better of Solaimalai 21-12, 21-10 in a match where the crowd made their voice heard at La Chapelle Arena.

With two wins from his three group games, Coombs secured second place in his group to qualify and he believes he is playing his best badminton at just the right time.

Coombs said: “Today that was a great example of the badminton I feel I can play at the moment and the confidence I’ve got so bring on the quarter-finals now.”

Choong wrapped up top spot in the women’s singles SH6 group B. She came out on top against Poland’s Oliwia Szmigiel in an epic battle, triumphing 17-21, 21-10, 21-16.

On her Paralympic debut, Choong is now into the quarter-finals and was delighted to have bounced back from going out of the mixed doubles alongside Shephard.

She said: “I had a late match last night in the mixed doubles and I lost that which means that unfortunately Jack and I are out of the mixed doubles so to bounce back from that and put in a good performance, I’m really pleased with that. Hopefully I can carry this momentum into the quarter-finals.”

Jack Shephard missed out after he lost to home favourite Charles Noakes.

The Frenchman had won his two previous group games, with Shephard needing to end that run to reach the last eight. But he was beaten 21-17, 21-17 and finishes fourth in his group.

Shephard said: “Having the opportunity to play a French player at their home Games was absolutely amazing. We all know in Europe the French crowd can be brilliant and they put on a show for us. To be able to play in front of them it was absolutely brilliant to be able to be out there.”

Ward and Bartram through

Dahnon Ward teamed up with his old junior adversary Ben Bartram to reach the second round of the men’s wheelchair tennis doubles at Paris 2024, winning 6-3 3-6 10-5 against Lhaj Boukartacha and Said Himam of Morocco. 

Elsewhere at Roland-Garros, Support from her psychologist and her partner helped power Lucy Shuker to a women’s singles win over a home favourite at Paris 2024. 

Shuker triumphed 6-4 7-5 over Charlotte Fairbank to reach the second round.

“We work on situations like this, pressure situations you have to be able to block out the crowd otherwise you’re never going to be a player that can perform,” said the flagbearer.