Highlights from day six of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Paralympic Games.
Swimming
Andrew Mullen was back in the poll today for the S5 Men’s 50m Backstroke. The Scot swam a time of 37.99 at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre to finish 4th in his heat to ensure a place in the final.
After his heat Mullen commented on his performance;
“I’m really pleased with that. It’s the fastest backstroke swim I’ve done in an awfully long time in the heats. It’s nice to make it through to the final; the S5 events have really pushed on in the last four years so to be up there competing in a final in my third Paralympic Games, yes, I’m pleased.”
Andrew finished in 7th place in the final of the S5 Men’s 50m backstroke, coming home in 37.96, a faster time than in the morning heats.
Athletics
Ben Rowlings is making his Paralympic debut at the Tokyo Games and faced a strong field in the T34 Men’s 100m Final in the Olympic Stadium today. Ben finished 9th in a time of 16.77, with his main target, the 800m, still to come later in the Games.
After his race, Ben stated;
I’m not happy with how I started the race, technically it wasn’t the best. I needed to be with the guys at the start,”
“The class has got really strong over the last few years so I know I’ve got work to do on the 100m.”
Wheelchair Tennis
Gordon Reid MBE faced his toughest challenge so far in the Men’s Singles competition when he came up against 9th seed Takashi Sanada from Japan in this third-round tie. However, the challenge never really materialised from the Japanese player and Gordon eased into the next round with a 6-2, 6-1 straight sets victory.
Gordon was back on court later in the day for the quarter final of the Men’s Doubles competition with partner Alfie Hewitt. The pair faced sixth seeds Joachim Gerard and Jef Vandorpe from Belguim at the Ariake Tennis Park. The number one seeds got off to a strong start and saw off their challengers with a straight sets 6-2, 6-2 victory.
Boccia
Scott McCowan was unbeaten in Group E of the BC3 Individual competition as he prepared for his final pool match against Australia’s Spencer Cotie at the Ariake Gymnastics Stadium. Scott got off to a blistering start taking the first end by three shots. However, Cotie fought back in the second end to make the score 3-2. Scott took a further shot in the third end to set up a nervous conclusion to the match. However, the Australian couldn’t make up the ground in the final end and Scott ran out as a 4-3 winner. Scott and his ramp assistant dad Gary, now progress to the knockout stages of the competition to face Brazil’s Evelyn de Oliveira in their quarter final tomorrow.
Jamie McCowan, with ramp assistant mum Linda McCowan, faced a final Pool E match against Argentina’s Stefania Ferrando in the BC3 individual competition. Jamie had lost his opening matches and it was a tough ask to progress in the competition. It was to be an exceptionally close encounter with the score 2-2 after four ends and a tie break required to decide the match. It was the Ferrando who emerged victorious taking a single shot in the tie break. Jamie’s attention now turns to the BC3 Pairs competition with ParalympicsGB facing South Korea on Thursday.
Hamilton’s Stephen McGuire faced a must win final Pool C BC4 Individual match if he was to progress to the later stages of the competition. He was up against Euclides Grisales from Columbia at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre. Stephen found it difficult to deal with the Columbian from the outset and ultimately lost the tie 6-0. Stephen’s focus will now shift to the BC4 Pairs competition where he will team up with Louis Saunders & Evie Edwards, for an opening encounter with Brazil on Thursday.
Shooting
Blairgowrie’s Lesley Stewart is another Scot making her Paralympic debut competing in the R2 Women’s 10m AR Standing SH1 event at the Asaka Shooting Range. Lesley’s score of 610.8 resulted in an 18th place finish in the qualification shoot but was unfortunately not enough to see her progress to the final stage of the competition.
Reflecting on her first Games experience, Lesley said;
“I think today was a hard battle, it did seem very hard in there.”
“However, I am very proud of what I have done today because it is my first Games, and I have come back from severe injury, so the only way forward is up.”
No additions medals for Scotland today, so the medal tally remains at eleven with one gold, three silver and seven bronze after six days of competition.
Photo – courtesy of imagecomms
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