New national record for cyclists at Paralympic Games

The Irish cyclists posted two national records in Beijing’s Laoshan Veldrome on the opening day at the 13th Paralympic Games.

Sydney gold medalist Gay Shelly held the honour of being the first Irish athlete into action when he opened his account in his pool of the individual Boccia competition with a 5-2 win over Brock Richardson of Canada. Shelly’s team mates; Bobbie Connolly, Padraic Moran and Tom Leahy, also started their campaigns, while teenage swimmer Ellen Keane raced in the Water Cube, and Eimear Breathnach featured in the individual table tennis competition.