Tokyo Paralympics: the Mena athletes in action on Day 2

Opening day of powerlifting at the Games on Thursday

Algeria's Abdelhalim Larbi during a men's preliminary goalball match against Japan at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. AP

The Tokyo Paralympics is under way and there is a lot more action in store on the second day of the Games.

Below are all the Mena athletes who will be fighting it out on Thursday.

Equestrian

Equestrian Park

Saudi Arabia’s Ahmed Sharbatly will be looking for a top eight finish in the Dressage Individual Test - Grade 5, and qualify for the Individual Freestyle Test. Sharbatly will no doubt be wanting to put the disappointment of Rio 2016 behind him, when he was forced to withdraw from the competition due to an injury to his horse.

Goalball

Makuhari Messe Hall

In the second day of the Goalball, Algeria’s men will be wanting to bounce back from their disappointing defeat against Japan, when they take on Lithuania.

Meanwhile, Israel’s women will want to carry forward the momentum from their opening win against Australia when they take on the team from Canada.

Egypt’s women will have their first match against Turkey.

Powerlifting

Tokyo International Forum

Mena para-athletes in every competition on the opening day of the powerlifting.

Double silver medallist, Omar Sami Qarada from Jordan will undoubtedly be seeking the top prize in the men’s -49kg final where he will be lifting against Hadj Ahmed Beyour of Algeria in a strong field.

Taha Abdelmajid of Egypt is back at the games after missing Rio. The London 2012 bronze medalist will be looking to make up for lost time when he lifts in the men’s -54kg final. Ali Al Darraji from Iraq will be among the contenders.

Noura Baddour from Syria, came in fourth in Rio, and so will absolutely be aiming for a place on the podium in her third Paralympic outing in the women’s -41kg final.

Algeria’s Samira Guerioua wasn’t far off a podium spot in Rio either, and she will be hoping to take home a medal in the final of the women’s -45kg class.

People take pictures of fireworks during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday August 24, 2021. Reuters

Fireworks illuminate over National Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. AP

International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons, centre, Japanese Emperor Naruhito, right, arrive for the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Getty

Performers during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Getty

Fireworks over the National Stadium in Tokyo during the opening ceremony for the 2020 Paralympics. AP

The Japanese national flag is carried into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Getty

Fireworks light up the sky above the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. AFP

The Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games. Reuters

Performers during the opening ceremony for the 2020 Paralympics. AP

Healthcare workers present the Japanese flag. Reuters

The Japanese national flag is carried ahead of the opening ceremony. Reuters

Fireworks over the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Getty

Fireworks during the opening ceremony for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. AFP

Performers dance during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Getty

Chef de Mission of Refugee Paralympic Team Ileana Rodriguez takes a selfie during their arrival at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Getty

Members of Refugee Paralympic Team before the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Getty

The Japan Air Self-Defence Force's Blue Impulse aerobatic flight team makes a commemorative flight over Tokyo ahead of the Tokyo Paralympics opening ceremony. EPA

Protesters demonstrate next to police in Tokyo before the Paralympics opening ceremony. Reuters

Protesters jostle with police ahead of the Tokyo Paralympics opening ceremony. Reuters

Protesters during the Tokyo Paralympics opening ceremony. Reuters

Protestors at the Tokyo Paralympics. Reuters

Flags of the participating nations are displayed in the parade of athletes during the opening ceremony. Getty

The Paralympic torch during the opening ceremony. EPA

Torchbearers Yui Kamiji, Shunsuke Uchida and Karin Morisaki. EPA

Opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Reuters

Performers take part in the opening ceremony for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. AFP

Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. AFP

A performer during the opening ceremony in Tokyo. AFP

Opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Getty

Performers during the opening ceremony for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. AFP

Yui Kamiji of Team Japan prepares to light the Paralympic flame. Getty

Swimming

Tokyo Aquatics Centre

Israel’s Ariel Malyar and Ami Dadaon will both be swimming in the same heat of the men’s 100m freestyle S4 class.

Table tennis

Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium

Jordan’s veteran ping-pong player Khetam Abu Awad will be taking on Israel’s Caroline Tabib in women’s singles class 5.

Egyptian Hanaa Hammad opens up her campaign against Maryna Lytovchecnko of Ukraine in the singles class 6.

Faten Elelimat of Jordan will be taking on Joyce de Oliviera of Brazil in the women’s single class 4.

Meanwhile in the men’s tournaments, Egypt's Ayman Zenaty's opener will be against Ali Ozturk of Turkey in single class 5, while compatriot Sayed Youssef will play Brazilian Israel Pereira Stroh in the single class 7.

Wheelchair Basketball

Various venues

Algeria and Iran are in the same preliminary group in the men’s wheelchair basketball. Algeria will be up against Great Britain, while the Iranians take on Australia.

Wheelchair Fencing

Makuhari Messe

Two great Iraqis to watch out for in the wheelchair fencing.

Rio silver medallist Ammar Ali will be aiming to go one better in the men’s epee individual - Category B, while compatriot, three-time world championship bronze medalist and fourth place finisher in Rio 2016, Zainulabdeen Al Madkhoori, has his eyes on the podium in the men’s epee individual - Category A.