Rollers to kick start Rio revenge campaign

Australian men's wheelchair basketball player Tige Simmons hopes The Rollers' Paralympic redemption will be swift as they kick off their campaign in Rio.

Australia's men's wheelchair basketball team are out for the ultimate revenge in Rio, veteran Tige Simmons says.

The two-time defending world champions are hoping to atone for their loss in the gold medal match in London four years ago, which Simmons says still hurts.

"We were definitely the best in the world going into that game," he said.

The Rollers entered the 2012 Games as reigning Paralympic and world champions, but were upstaged 64-58 in the final by Canada.

Flag bearer Brad Ness will lead The Rollers in their opening match against the Netherlands on day one of competition on Thursday.

"He's the best guy to go into battle with, he instills confidence into everybody," Simmons said.

And they'll need it.

Simmons, who is gearing up for his third Paralympics, says there's at least six teams vying for gold that have a legitimate chance to knock off Australia.

"Everyone's hunting us. We have a massive target on our back," he said.

"This is a really good opportunity for us to stand up and assert our dominance and get the ultimate revenge."

Also on Thursday, defending para-shooting champion Natalie Smith is a firm favourite to get Australia's campaign off to a golden start.

Fresh out of last month's Olympics, Victorian table tennis player Melissa Tapper will become the first Australian to compete at both Games in Rio when she contests the women's singles pool match.

Australia's co-skipper and five-time Paralympian Daniela Di Toro will make her para-table tennis debut after switching from wheelchair tennis a year ago.

Cyclist Kieran Modra comes out of retirement for his eighth Games to contest the men's 4km pursuit, while 14-year-old world champion swimmer Tiffany Thomas-Kane will have a crack at gold in the 100m backstroke.

World record-holding long jumper Carlee Beattie is chasing her first gold medal.

And the Australian women's goalball team will kick off their second consecutive Paralympic campaign after getting the late call up for the Games when Russia was slapped with a blanket ban for systematic doping.

AUSSIES IN ACTION ON DAY ONE

* Men's wheelchair basketball: Australian v The Netherlands

* Swimming: Tiffany Thomas-Kane, 100m backstroke

* Table tennis: Daniela Di Toro and Melissa Tapper

* Athletics: Carlee Beattie, long jump

* Cycling: Kieran Modra


Share

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world