Irish in action day one

Compiled by MALACHY CLERKIN

EIMEAR BREATHNACH

Table Tennis

ExCel Arena, 1pm

The 2011 US Open winner from Ballinteer competed in Beijing four years ago and finished third in her qualifying group. She will be looking to improve on that here, beginning with the preliminaries this afternoon.

JAMES BROWN and DAMIEN SHAW

Tandem Cycling

Velodrome, 11.06am

James Brown competed in both winter and summer games for Britain (skiing, biathlon, athletics) and teams up here with sighted pilot Damien Shaw. They go in the individual pursuit heat with a possible final at five o’clock.

RONAN ROONEY

Table Tennis

ExCel Arena, 11.40am

Competing in his sixth Paralympics having been to every one between 1984 and 2000. Won a bronze medal in the wheelchair marathon in 1984. Goes in the preliminary round of the men’s singles.

ELLEN KEANE

Swimming

Aquatic Centre, 11.06am

Competing at her second Paralympics, she goes in the 100m butterfly. Although it isn’t her preferred event – she’s a better breaststroker – on her best form she could make the final which is at 7.30 this evening.

RENA McCARRON

Table Tennis

ExCel Arena, 1pm

Better half of Ronan Rooney, she goes in the preliminaries of the women’s singles competition. Has been involved at the top level of table tennis for 15 years and currently ranked ninth in the world.

PHILIP QUINLAN

Table Tennis

ExCel Arena, 1.40pm

Last year’s US Open gold medallist faces Frenchman Jean Francois Ducay in this Group A encounter. He comes into the Games in good form having won a silver medal in this year’s Irish Open team event alongside Ronan Rooney.

JAMES SCULLY

Swimming

Aquatic Centre, 11.35am

Swim Ireland’s 2011 Disability Swimmer of the Year goes in the 50m freestyle. Scully has a job on his hands to make the final here as he comes in with the 10th best qualifying time of the 16 swimmers in his category.

ENDA SMYTH

Cycling

Velodrome, 2pm

The 43-year-old from Santry who goes in the 1km Time Trial, an event in which he finished seventh at the Beijing Paralympics. The Individual Pursuit later in the week should see his best performance.

EILISH BYRNE

Equestrian

Greenwich Park, 9am

The first of Ireland’s Paralympians into action, she takes her turn in the team test on her horse Youri. Four years ago, she was Ireland’s only equestrian entrant and she will compete in both freestyle and championship events as the week goes on.