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A cross-country runner celebrates winning gold

Candelier bags double gold at cross-country Worlds

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Marion Candelier put on an impressive show for hosts France at the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Cross-Country Championships in Epernay on 8 and 10 December, sweeping the board in women’s events.

In the short distance on Friday Candelier was dominant despite freezing temperatures, crossing the line in 7:53.15. The Czech Republic’s silver medallist Katerina Husakova (8:22.44) could not match the Frenchwoman over 2km. South Africa’s Bonang Modise (8:28.86) was third.

Making the most of the 24 hour break, Candelier then tackled the long distance 5km course on Sunday.

Improving on her silver medal from 2014 she finished in 21:53. Smangele Tembe (25:21) claimed another medal for South Africa in second. Husakova (26:23) stepped onto the podium again in third.

Portugal’s Cristiano Pereira also doubled-up in the men’s, taking his first gold on the 4km course on Friday.

Pereira (12:31.09) was in the sights of France’s Rashid Boutasghount (13:02.80) but just nudged the host’s favourite into second.

Defending champion Daniel Pek (13:17.96) was pushed into third for Poland.

France took some consolation by winning the team event, courtesy of a combined performance from Boutasghount, Renaud Brelik and Quentin Foratier.

Pereira, Jose Azevedo and Paulo Benevente joined forces to seal silver for Portugal. The South African trio of Fathuwani Mushiana, Kamogelo Moncho and Reggie Segobaetso completed the podium.

The same result in the short distance was then repeated on the 8km course.

Pereira (30:12) impressed once again to finish ahead of Boutasghount (30:28) in second. Pek (32:06) rounded-off the podium but lost his world title.

The men’s team gold went to France, followed by Portugal and South Africa.

About World Intellectual Impairment Sport

World Intellectual Impairment Sport represents more than 300,000 athletes with intellectual impairments around the world. We give elite athletes the chance to compete at an international level and on the Paralympic stage. But we cannot continue our work towards the inclusion of the people with intellectual impairments in society without your support.

We are a registered charity and your help can make a big difference. Find out more.

Mills top scorer as Australia Gold take Worlds victory

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A group of female basketball players with intellectual impairments

Credit: Australian Pearls

Australia Gold claimed the women’s title at the 2017 International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) World Basketball Championships on Saturday (25 November) as Eliza Mills was named best female player and top scorer across the tournament in Loano, Italy.

The Golds played their compatriots Australia Green in the final. Both teams dominated the women’s 3×3 competition, the first time the format has been played at a World Championships.

The Greens opened the scoring with two baskets but were eventually overcome by their opponents. Jess McCulloch led the scoring for the silver medallists with four points.

Meanwhile all five players bagged points for the Golds, with Kaitlyn Papworth the top scorer with five points.

Mills claimed the overall top scorer accolade with 27 points from five games.

In the men’s 5×5 France claimed the title over 2013 world champions Portugal with a 66-31 win.

Australia were third, beating Poland 88-52. Jake De La Motte was the top scorer for the bronze medallists, netting 111 points over the Championships.

The 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Basketball Championships featured men’s and women’s teams from six countries – Australia, France, Poland, Portugal, Egypt and Japan.

France and Australia Gold continue winning form at basketball Worlds

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The French men’s team and the Australia Gold women’s team recorded their latest victories at the 2017 International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) World Basketball Championships in Loano, Italy, on Wednesday (22 November).

France’s 73-57 win over Japan saw them strengthen their position at the top of group one with four points. They followed-up on their triumph over Poland in their opening match on Tuesday (21 November).

Japan and Poland, the other two teams in the group, remain without a win.

In the women’s, Australia Gold recorded their third straight win at the Palagarassini Stadium.

They were the victors over the second Australian team, Australia Green.

The Greens kept the Golds contained in the opening few minutes. However Eliza Mills was too much for them to handle, scoring an impressive six points. The final score was 13-1

Earlier that day Australia Green took on France. In what was a low-scoring, physical game, the Greens forced the match into overtime in the final minute before scoring again to decide the 10-1 result.

Jess McCulloch was the top scorer for the Greens with four points. Nicole Harris also had a great game with three points, netting an impressive goal from a seated position after being knocked to the floor.

Men’s teams from Australia, Egypt, Portugal, Poland, Japan and France are competing in Loano. Australia Gold and Green and France make up the women’s competition.

Live updates and pictures are available throughout at World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ Facebook and Twitter.

About World Intellectual Impairment Sport

World Intellectual Impairment Sport represents more than 300,000 athletes with intellectual impairments around the world. We give elite athletes the chance to compete at an international level and on the Paralympic stage. But we cannot continue our work towards the inclusion of the people with intellectual impairments in society without your support.

We are a registered charity and your help can make a big difference. Find out more. 

Portugal, Australia Gold take wins at World Intellectual Impairment Sport basketball Worlds

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Cheerleaders perform at the Opening Ceremony of the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Basktbetall Championships

Daniele Traverso

The Egyptian men’s and Australia Gold women’s team took victories at the 2017 International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) World Basketball Championships in Loano, Italy, on Tuesday (21 November).

Portugal, 2013 world champions and bronze medallists from 2015, beat newcomers Egypt 100-16 in their opening group two match at the Palagarassini Stadium.

France, 2015 silver medallists, began their campaign with a 64-29 win over Poland in group one.

Earlier in the day an impressive Opening Ceremony saw a packed crowd enjoy performances and speeches from local dignitaries.

In the women’s competition, played in the fast-paced 3×3 format, the Australia Pearls had a busy day.

The country has two teams in the competition – Australia Gold and Australia Green.

Australia Gold claimed victory over their compatriots 19-12.

After an early flourish from Australia Green that saw them take a 4-0 lead, the Golds settled into the game. Katie Papworth was the team’s top scorer, netting seven points.

Australia Gold then went on to beat France 12-6 in a double-header.

France tried to take advantage of Australia Gold’s plight in a very physical game, but they could not capitalise.

Molly Urquhart-Moran captained her side well, controlling the tempo and scoring at key points. Eliza Mills also starred for Australia, making 100 per cent of her foul shots to break the game open.

Games continue at the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Basketball Championships on Wednesday (22 November) and run until 25 November.

Men’s teams from Australia, Egypt, Portugal, Poland, Japan and France are competing in Loano. Australia Gold and Green and France make up the women’s competition.

Live updates and pictures are available throughout at World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ Facebook and Twitter.

About World Intellectual Impairment Sport

World Intellectual Impairment Sport represents more than 300,000 athletes with intellectual impairments around the world. We give elite athletes the chance to compete at an international level and on the Paralympic stage. But we cannot continue our work towards the inclusion of the people with intellectual impairments in society without your support.

We are a registered charity and your help can make a big difference. Find out more. 

 

France claim historic double at World Intellectual Impairment Sport table tennis Worlds

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A table tennis player with Down's syndrome

The French men’s and women’s teams took two historic titles at the 2017 International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) World Table Tennis Championships on Monday (23 October), securing the first titles for players with Down’s syndrome.

Lucille Poquet, Camille Frson, Celine Delalande and Carole Hennion were the victors in the women’s on the opening day of competition in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.

They overcame the Egyptian side of Norhan Aboutale and Nermen Abdelhafez 3-0.

There was similar success for the French men. Cedric Courrillaud, Ludovic Morainville, Jean Bachevillier and Alexandre Sol also beat Egypt 3-0. Kareem Elzeiny and Mazen Elsamay proved no match for their opponents.

The Championships in Hradec Kralove are the first World Intellectual Impairment Sport competition to feature the new trial eligibility groups of Down’s syndrome and autism.

The new categories join the existing classification of players with an intellectual impairment where matches were also played on Monday.

Hong Kong’s Paralympic bronze medallist Mui Wui Ng and teammates Hiu Tung Li and Pui Kei Wong claimed gold in the women’s junior team competition.

They triumphed over hosts Czech Republic featuring Jana Feixova and Denisa Macurova, 3-0.

Away from the medal matches the men’s team and men’s junior competition for players with intellectual impairments got underway.

Defending champions France won their opening group games against Egypt and Austria, both 3-0, to advance to the next round.

Hong Kong beat Thailand 3-0 in the men’s junior competition.

Hradec Kralove 2017 runs until 27 October.

News and updates will be available at the World Intellectual Impairment Sport website (www.inas.org) and Facebook and Twitter.

Full results are available at the competition website.

About World Intellectual Impairment Sport

World Intellectual Impairment Sport represents more than 300,000 athletes with intellectual impairments around the world. We give elite athletes the chance to compete at an international level and on the Paralympic stage. But we cannot continue our work towards the inclusion of the people with intellectual impairments in society without your support.

We are a registered charity and your help can make a big difference. Find out more

Male rowers from Italy

Italy, France to host rowing, cross-country Worlds

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The International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) has added indoor rowing and cross-country running to its 2017 World Championships calendar.

The 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Indoor Rowing Championships will take place in Gavirate, Italy, from 25-26 November. Featuring six medal events, athletes will compete for individual and mixed relay medals over 500m and 1,000m.

It will be the fifth edition of the World Championships and the third time top class rowers have travelled to Italy for the event. Also in Gavirate in 2015, Hong Kong dominated the medals table with six podium finishes

Gavirate 2017 is being organised by the A.S.D. Canottieri Gavirate and the Italian Rowing Federation.

The 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Cross Country Championships in Epernay, France, will conclude the major international competition calendar on 10 December.

Returning to France for the second time, it will be the eighth edition of the World Championships. The organisers are the Fédération Française du Sport Adapté.

The last cross-country World Championships were held in 2014 in Ostrzeszów, Poland. The host’s European track champion Daniel Pek and Paralympic track gold medallist teammate Barbara Niewiedzial dominated the men’s and women’s respectively.

Nick Parr, World Intellectual Impairment Sport Executive Director, said: “These two high-level competitions complete the 2017 calendar perfectly.

“It brings the number of World Championships held this year to 10 across a wide variety of sports. We have also sanctioned and organised a series of other competitions.

“I am sure that rowers and runners will put on a huge show to win coveted world titles and end the year on a high. Our thanks go to the organisers for providing athletes with the perfect stage to reach their best.”

Entries for both World Championships are now open. More information can be found at www.inas.org/events.

Support us

The International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) represents more than 300,000 athletes with intellectual impairments around the world. We give elite athletes the chance to compete at an international level and on the Paralympic stage. But we cannot continue our work towards the inclusion of the world’s biggest impairment group in sport and society without your support.

We are a registered charity and your help can make a big difference.

World’s best cyclists ready to take on World Championships

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Elite level cyclists from nine countries have arrived in Assen, the Netherlands, for the 2017 International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) World Cycling Championships which get underway on Tuesday (1 August).

The competition, featuring team and individual time trials and road races for men and women, is being run alongside the European Junior Cycling Tour.

The field is highlighted by the return of respective French men’s and women’s world champions Jeremy Pereira and Aurelie Minodier.

In 2016 Pereira claimed the men’s road race and individual time trial titles in Racice, Czech Republic.

The 23-year-old wants to “win the world champion title once again” in Assen but is also aware of the threat from the hosts.

“I think the Dutch could beat me, especially as we are racing in their home country, it is definitely an advantage for them,” Pereira said. “I am planning to follow thoroughly the instructions of my coach.”

One of Pereira’s toughest competitors will be Joannathan Duinkerke. The Dutch athlete was the bronze medallist from the 2016 road race and one-half of the title-winning duo from the team time trial with teammate Davy Mertens.

Mertens will challenge for gold in the individual time trial as the third place finisher from the last edition.

Minodier meanwhile will try to defend her road race and individual time trial golds from Racice.

The 24-year-old Frenchwoman aims to “keep [her] titles and pursue [her] efforts to the end” but will be looking over her shoulder at the Polish and Russian racers.

Russia’s Liubov Tarasova will be looking to improve on her silver medal from the individual time trial and bronze in the road race from 2016.

Action gets underway with the men’s and women’s individual time trial on 1 August. The men’s and women’s team time trial follows on 3 August (subject to entries) with the men’s and women’s road race on 4 August.

Full entries, course maps and results are available at https://inasdrenthe.com/ and live updates posted to Facebook.com/World Intellectual Impairment Sportsport and Twitter (@World Intellectual Impairment Sportsport).

Support us

World Intellectual Impairment Sport represents more than 300,000 athletes with intellectual impairments around the world. We give elite athletes the chance to compete at an international and on the Paralympic stage. But we cannot continue our work towards the inclusion of the world’s biggest impairment group in society without your support.

We are a registered charity and your help can make a big difference.

France’s Pereira targets cycling world title defence

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Jeremy Pereira and

French men’s road race and individual time trial world champion Jeremy Pereira is eyeing the successful defence of his titles when the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Cycling Championships roll into Assen, the Netherlands, from Wednesday (2 August).

At the last edition in the Czech Republic in 2016 the 23-year-old stormed to double gold and was part of the French duo that claimed silver in the men’s team time trial with Mickael Collin.

He is clear what he wants this time around: “Win the world champion title once again.”

But Pereira knows he will face tough competition, especially from the hosts.

“I think the Dutch could beat me, especially as we are racing in their home country, it is definitely an advantage for them,” he said. “I am planning to follow thoroughly the instructions of my coach.”

One of Pereira’s toughest competitors will be Joannathan Duinkerke. The Dutch athlete was the bronze medallist from the 2016 individual road race and one-half of the title-winning duo from the team time trial alongside teammate Davy Mertens.

Duinkerke has had a great season, winning in the road race at the Dutch Championships for athletes with an intellectual impairment.

Pereira favours the time trial as he hopes to convert his training performances into success on the road.

“My favourite contest is the time trial because I achieve good results in all of my trainings and it is often done on a short circuit so I can give all I have all along the race.”

The Frenchman has been cycling for fun since the age of 12. He began competitive cycling with the French Federation of Adapted Sports in 2014 after riding 300km from Pont Audemer in France to London, Great Britain, ahead of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“I can escape, I am not thinking of anything else and it feels good, and I also like seeing the landscape,” Pereira said of his love for two wheels. “It is helping me to release my stress, I climb on my bike almost daily in order to relax.”

Pereira is also on the road to the 2019 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games in Brisbane, Australia, where he will try to improve on his silver medal from the individual time trial and retain the team title with Collin. Collin will also compete in Assen.

The 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Cycling World Championships will feature the world’s best cyclists with an intellectual impairment from nine countries.

Action gets underway with the men’s and women’s individual time trial on 1 August. The men’s and women’s team time trial follows on 3 August with the men’s and women’s road race on 4 August.

Support us

World Intellectual Impairment Sport represents more than 300,000 athletes with intellectual impairments around the world. We give elite athletes the chance to compete at an international and on the Paralympic stage. But we cannot continue our work towards the inclusion of the world’s biggest impairment group in society without your support.

We are a registered charity and your help can make a big difference.