Five Incheon victors qualify for Rio 2016 Paralympics
05.11.2014In total, 271 athletes have qualified for Rio, with five more slots secured at the Incheon 2014 Asian Para-Games.
Japan's Shingo Kunieda reacts to beating Argentina's Gustavo Fernandez in the men's singles final of the 2014 Australian Open. It was Kunieda's seventh title at the Australian Opne.
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There have been 271 athletes in both individual and team sports qualify for Rio 2016 Paralympic Games so far.
Two athletes and three teams booked their place at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games with their results at the Incheon 2014 Asian Para Games in South Korea, between 18-24 October.
In total, there have been 271 athletes in both individual and team sports qualify for Rio 2016 Paralympic Games so far.
On the penultimate day of competition (23 October) at the Incheon 2014 Asian Para-Games, Japanese and Thai players guaranteed their presence in the wheelchair tennis competition in 2016, while Iran booked their spot in the football 7-a-side tournament and the China men’s team and Iranian women confirmed their places in sitting volleyball.
Japan’s three-time Paralympic wheelchair tennis champion Shingo Kunieda beat compatriot Takashi Sanada 2-0 (6-3, 6-1) in the final to book his place.
In the women’s event, Thailand’s Sakhorn Khanthasit overcame China’s Jinlian Huang 2-0 (6-3, 6-1) to secure her second Asian Para-Games title and qualify for her fourth Paralympic Games. The duo have become the first wheelchair tennis stars to qualify for Rio 2016.
In the football 7-a-side competition, Iran triumphed 5-0 over Japan in the final, with goals from Moslem Akbari (2), Hossein Tiz Bor (2) and Hashem Rastegarimobin.
The Iranians, who won bronze at the London 2012 and Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, join Ukraine in Rio, who won the European title in August, along with host nation Brazil. There are five places remaining still to be secured.
In the sitting volleyball competition, China’s men lost 3-0 (12-25, 19-25, 27-29) to Iran in the final but still qualified for Rio as the Iranians had already guaranteed their place by taking bronze the World Championships in June.
This pattern was repeated, in reverse, in the women’s event as China beat Iran 3-0 (25-15, 25-12, 25-15). The defeated finalists can now book their tickets to Brazil, as the Chinese women had already confirmed their Paralympic place at the World Championships.
For more information, visit the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games website
