Month in para-sport review – October 2014

"The competition also saw an incredible 24 world records broken or equalled, and 121 new Asian records."

October saw Asian athletes take to the fore at the Incheon 2014 Asian Para-Games in South Korea. Other highlights included the launch of the IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Series, and a European sailing championship.

Incheon 2014 Asian Para Games

China topped the medals table at the Asian Para-Games in Incheon, South Korea, winning 174 gold, 95 silver and 48 bronze medals.

The Games, from 18-24 October, saw athletes from 41 nations competing across 23 sports.

Chinese swimmer Furong Lin was the most decorated athlete, winning six gold medals. The second highest medal winner was Vietnamese swimmer Thanh Tung Vo with five golds

The competition also saw an incredible 24 world records broken or equalled, and 121 new Asian records.

Arguably the story of the games was Iran’s Paralympic champion powerlifter Siamand Rahman, who broke his own world record three times over the competition, with a final lift of 292.0kg.

Iran’s Sareh Javanmardidodmani smashed two world records on her way to double gold in the shooting, to complete an excellent year for her, after winning her first world title at the 2014 IPC Shooting World Championships in Suhl, Germany, in July.

There was also a shock in the wheelchair tennis, as Japan’s world No.1 Yui Kamiji crashed out in the semi-finals to eventual winner, Thailand’s Sakhorn Khanthasit.

- Full recap of the Incheon 2014 Asian Para Games

EUROSAF Sailing European Championship

France’s Bruno Jourdren was crowned champion of the European Sailing Federation (EUROSAF) Disabled Sailing European Championship in Valencia, Spain, which took place between 22-26 October.

The competition featured racing in the 2.4mR class, with Jourdren taking top spot with a net score of 23 across the 11 races, nine points ahead of his closest competitor.

The Frenchman took first place on four occasions, including the penultimate race, securing him the gold medal comfortably ahead of the 17-strong field.

Second place went to teammate Kevin Cantin, who scored 32 points, ahead of Italy’s Antonio Squizzato, who recovered from a disastrous start in the opening race to score 35 overall.

Ice Sledge Hockey 4 Nations Cup

The Czech Republic lead the standings in the IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Series after the first games took place at the Four Nations Cup in Langenhagen, Germany, between 24-26 October.

Italy won the Cup overall, but fielded a team that included two development players. For all results to be recognised in the World Series, under the sport rules, all players have to be fully licensed.

The competition featured four nations, with Czech Republic beating Germany and Sweden, before losing to Italy.