Para-archer Shaun Anderson, in his own third Paralympics, opened Team SA’s campaign in Paris on Thursday and qualified for the final by delivering the best international performance of his career. The South African came up against the best archers in the world and qualified 9th.
In the 1/8 stage, he will meet Turkey’s Yigid Aydin, who placed 8th overall in qualifying.
Also in early action on the opening day of competition, para-swimmer Nathan Hendricks who reached the final which will be swum later on Thursday. Swimming in the opening heat of the men’s S13 100m butterfly, he clocked 59.51sec.
That placed him joined sixth on the overall list in the final.
There was another sport on the day one menu for Team SA, the individual competition where Karabo Morapedi and Elanza Jordaan made their Paralympic debuts. Morapedi lost his opening pool match, with Jordaan set for an evening debut.
In the men’s 100m butterfly, S13 final, South Africa’s Nathan Hendricks finished eighth.
Brief results
Archery
Men’s W1 individual ranking round: Shaun Anderson produced a season’s best 638 points to place ninth in qualifying and advancing to the 1/8 stage where he will meet Turkey’s Yigid Aydi
Boccia
Men’s individual, BC3, Preliminary Pool A: Korabo Morapedi lost 10-2 to Daniel Michel (Aus)
Swimming
Men’s 100m butterfly, S13 heats: Nathan Hendricks finished fourth in his heat in 59.51sec and he reached the final where he is joint sixth fastest.
Sascoc