The pesky meddling rain forced organisers to revamp the para triathlon events but the downpours injected a layer of ruggedness into the first day of track and field action at the Stade de France in Saint Denis. Indoors at the para table tennis, Chinese triulmphs.
Splash stance
The schedule was revamped for the para triathlon after forecasts showed inclement weather. All 11 medal events will be held on Day 4 instead of Day 4 and 5. “The decision was taken to provide athletes and coaches with as much certainty as possible," said the organisers. This type of stuff revives memories over the many splendoured changes during the Olympics. Essentially heavy rains cause sewage to flow into the river which leads to a rise in bacteria levels and very unaesthetic objects in the river.
Wave of success
Raoua Tlili from Tunisia won her seventh Paralympic title by claiming the F41 shot put category. It was her country's first medal at the Paralympics. Tlili, 34, who competes in the petite category, was a strong favorite for gold - she has held the world record since the Tokyo Games in 2021. Her second throw of 10.40m secured the crown ahead of Kubaro Khakimova from Uzbekistan. Antonella Ruiz Diaz won the bronze medal with a season's best throw of 9.58m.
New same old
Doubles has been off the agenda in para table tennis for a few decades. But the Paris 2024 organisers have put it back in. And lo and behold, the first two golds in the doubles since the 1976 Paralympic Games in Toronto went to ... China.
Fight for top spot
The Chinese and the Americans battled for supremacy at the top of the medals table during the Olympic Games. Athletes from both countries won 40 but the US eventually claimed the bragging rights because they had more silver and bronze. It doesn't look like it will be anything like the same breathless struggle during the Paralympic Games. China have racked up 25 medals in two days and 12 of them shine gold. The US got its first gold on Day 2. Still a few more days to go.
Really?
Word reached the review about a poll that reported 88 percent of people questioned believed that the Paralympics opening ceremony was good. Operatives were charged with going out among the great unwashed to glean the views. The vast majority - that's 87 percent - of the 1,189 souls quizzed thought it was a whizzer idea to launch the para sports fest along the Champs Elysées and Place de la Concorde. We've been watching the Paralympics action and haven't had enough time to dive into the survey to find out how many people thought it was ace to charge between 150 and 700 euros to go and watch the show.
