Paralympics: Jesson leads busy day for Kiwi Paralympians

New Zealand have a busy second day in the 12th Paralympics at Athens, seeing action in cycling, athletics, shooting, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.

Cyclist Paul Jesson, sixth fastest on the first day in the 3000m pursuit track race, was to face Fabrizio Macchi of Italy early today.

The semifinals and final follow, with the fastest two winners bat-tling for gold and the other two winners going for bronze.

Jesson, from Christchurch, will need to be at his explosive best, as Macchi was 6s faster in yesterday's preliminaries.


In wheelchair tennis, all three New Zealand teams were in early action with Glenn Barnes (singles) and Jacque Courtier and Tiffiney Perry (doubles) playing in the second series of games in the session.

Barnes from Christchurch, internationally ranked at 111, was to play Spain's Cristin Mira (ranked 162nd) and Waikato's Courtier (56) and Perry (37) meet a tough United States combination in Sharon Clark (11) and Kaitlyn Verfuerth (19).

At the Olympic Stadium, Tim Prendergast of Wellington in the 1500m semifinals was looking to improve on his silver medal at the Sydney Paralympics.

Coach Claire Dallison said recent time trials showed Prendergast was in peak form.

"Tim probably favours the 800m slightly ahead of the 1500m, but I see no reason why he should not be right in medal contention in this event."

The Wheel Blacks were to open their rugby campaign overnight against arch-rivals Australia.

While the New Zealand team are familiar with Australia, they will also be keeping an eye on the United States, gold medallists in Sydney, who are their next opponents.

Christchurch shooter Colin Willis competes in the men's R1-10m air rifle standing SH1.

- NZPA