Winning starts for NI Paralympians in GB squads

The Great Britain squads which include Lisburn's David Ross and Katie Morrow from Antrim have made winning starts to their campaigns at the Paralympics in Paris on Thursday.

Morrow played the fourth quarter as her side beat Spain 69-34 in their first game in Preliminary Round Group A of the women's wheelchair basketball competition

Ross's GB group defeated Australia 58-55 in their Preliminary Round Group B game in men's wheelchair rugby.

In swimming, Paralympic debutant Dearbhaile Brady from Feeny came fifth in her heat of the S6 50m freestyle – she was 10th fastest overall so missed out on Thursday night’s final.

Her Ireland team-mate Nicole Turner was third in the same heat and fifth fastest overall so progresses to the final.

Another Ireland competitor, Roisin Ni Riain, came fourth in her heat and was fifth quickest overall in the S13 100m butterfly heats.

Meanwhile Larne's Claire Taggart, competing for Great Britain, began her boccia campaign with a comprehensive 10-1 win over Joselyn Leon of Ecuador.

Having first competed in Rio in 2016 as a 21-year-old, Taggart is targeting a first Paralympics medal in her third Games.

In 2022, Taggart secured two gold medals at the Boccia World Cup in Portugal and later the same year, gold in the Boccia World Championships in Rio.