Great Britain wheelchair fencer Piers Gilliver said there is "always pressure" as defending champion as he aims to retain the Paralympic gold he won in Tokyo in the men’s epee A category.

Gilliver, who trains in Bath, will take on China’s Sun Gang in the final at the Grand Palais.

The 29-year-old has already won two silvers in Paris - in the men's individual sabre A category and the men's foil team.

"There's always that pressure going in as defending champion; there's only one place to go, which is down so it's hard not for that to play on your mind," Gilliver told BBC Radio Somerset before the Games.

"I've always kept my focus on making myself better each day and the result - whatever it is - will happen on the day. Having that focus really changes it from a pure outcome base to making myself the best I can."

Piers Gilliver is getting ready to defend his Paralympic title in the men's epee A and win a second wheelchair fencing gold of the night for Great Britain.

The 31-year-old will take on China's Rio 2016 champion Gang Sun in the final.

The contest is about to get under way at the majestic Grand Palais.

Image source, Getty Images

Great Britain's Matt Harding, who finished fifth in his Para-powerlifting final in Paris:

"I loved it. Seeing the guys leading up to today competing, I couldn't wait to get going. To have an experience like that with my family in the crowd, with what they've been through in the past few years, with the loss of my father and nanna, fighting to give them a moment of joy and excitement means everything. It's unbelievable, to lift 200kg is such a landmark moment.”

On the atmosphere: “It was an unbelievable atmosphere. I have no doubt my family contributed to 90% of the noise! We obviously have competitions leading up to it but there's nothing like the Paralympic Games. I'm living the dream and I'm just so happy."

On his Games experience: "Being part of ParalympicsGB, in the Paralympic village, we stand out as one of the greatest, if not the greatest in my opinion, in terms of how great our accommodation is, how great our team is and how great our coaches are. We are so fortunate and I’m so glad to experience this with other sports and my own team-mates. It has been amazing."

On the future: "I want to try to challenge for medals in LA. I know I’m good enough to do it."

Iran have just levelled their gold medal match with Bosnia and Herzegovina so the score is now locked at 1-1 going into the third set.

Remember, the world's second tallest man, Morteza Mehrzad, plays for Iran. When standing, he's a huge eight-foot-one-inch tall.

Image source, Getty Images

Team-mate Gordon Reid said: "We finally did it, it's ours!

"It feels amazing, even if it's not fully sunk in yet, the emotions and adrenaline are still high.

"We've been desperate this for a long time, we've come close twice and felt that heartbreak and pain.

"Those matches have been some of the toughest moments of my career so sit here with the gold around our necks is one of the best feelings.

"Sometimes you need to feel some pain to enjoy the highs when they come, we need to really savour this moment.”

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First, here's Alfie Hewett: "I just wish we could play here all the time. The atmosphere has been electric all week and to have the opportunity to play in front of these crowds don't come around very often.

"Tokyo was three years ago, we've grown a lot in that time and we manage the big moments a lot better now. When it comes to big points, we know what to do.

"We felt confident going into this week but there is always a doubt because of those two losses at the Paralympics. We've just squashed that and just played our brand of tennis and thankfully this time we're not crying on each other's shoulders.

"We've wanted this title for a very long time. We've been on such a journey to get here. It's hard to put in words the last few months, it's the stuff of dreams."

On contesting his second final on Saturday, Hewett added: "I'm not thinking my singles, we've been working hard for this moment, I don't want to put it to one side, tomorrow I'm going for another gold but tonight is all about us."

Earlier today, GB's wheelchair tennis stars Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid ended their wait for Paralympic doubles gold at Paris 2024.

Hewett will now aim to complete a career golden slam in both formats in Saturday's singles final.

Let's get their thoughts on that victory at Roland Garros.

Great Britain are now up to 98 medals at Paris 2024.

Just two more required to reach the century, with wheelchair fencer Piers Gilliver guaranteed at least silver in the men's epee category A gold medal bout.

So, it will all come down to GB's 4x100m universal relay team at the Stade de France...

Zac Shaw, Jonnie Peacock, Ali Smith and Sammi Kinghorn will compete for ParalympicsGB in that medal race, scheduled for 19:56 BST.

Wow!

Venezuela's Naibys Daniela Morillo Gil sets a new Paralympic record with her final throw, improving to 43.77m to move into the gold medal position.

It all comes down to Uzbekistan's Shahinakhon Yigitalieva's final attempt, and she also beats Hollie Arnold's previous Paralympic record - but it's not quite enough.

She must settle for silver with 43.12m, ahead of GB's Arnold.

Image source, PA Media

Hollie Arnold isn't able to improve on her third round 40.59m throw but that is enough to earn bronze in Paris, matching her medal from Tokyo.

Hollie Arnold has one foot on the podium as we enter the final round of the women's F46 javelin final.

Uzbekistan's Shahinakhon Yigitalieva is on for gold following her Paralympic record 43.09m throw, ahead of Venezuela's Naibys Daniela Morillo Gil with a best of 41.90m.

Arnold is in third, having thrown one centimetre further then the Netherlands' Noelle Roorda.

Great Britain's Poppy Maskill speaking after winning her third gold in Paris: "I was a little bit annoyed because it was not a personal best but it was still a gold so I can't be too annoyed. I'm obviously happy with my medals as they are a great achievement but I'm slightly disappointed in my time because I know I can be better."

On where she is going to put her medals: "I've stacked the medals in my room at the moment but I want to put them on display in my living room so I can see them when I get home."

On having the most medals of any ParalympicsGB athlete so far in Paris: "It's really cool to have five medals and the most of any ParalympicsGB athlete so far here. I would have thought it would be Alice (Tai) or someone else. It feels great."

On her love for swimming: "I like the feeling of swimming. No matter the mood I'm in, if I'm sad or happy, when I get in the water I feel calm and good. Training is one of my favourite things, alongside playing with my dogs."

Image source, Getty Images

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at South Paris Arena

Will Bayley gets a deserved standing ovation from the South Paris Arena crowd, he accepts the applause with grace.

He then slumps in his seat with his coach, looking understandably devastated.

That's a third individual Paralympic silver for Bayley - he lost in the final in 2012 and 2020, and now here.

Three more medals needed for ParalympicsGB to reach 100 medals at Paris 2024 tonight!

It's doable...

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at South Paris Arena

A thrilling, topsy-turvy, controversial match ends in defeat for GB's Will Bayley.

After being docked a point in the fifth and deciding game, he is beaten by Yan Shuo of China 11-9 12-14 11-7 7-11 11-9.

Bayley and Shuo embrace at the end, before the Brit goes for more cross words with umpire Darek Mikita.

We have a new leader!

Uzbekistan's Shahinakhon Yigitalieva has just produced a Paralympic record 43.09m throw, bettering Hollie Arnold's mark which had stood since Rio 2016.

Arnold will make her fifth throw in third place.

Into the final two rounds of the women's F46 javelin final at the Stade de France. Can Hollie Arnold find the extra distance she requires to reclaim her title?

Noelle Roorda of the Netherlands has just moved into third place with a 40.58m throw - one centimetre behind Arnold, who needs to find an additional 1.32m for gold as it stands.

Tokyo champion Holly Robinson is struggling, with a fourth successive foul.

Great Britain's Matthew Harding finished in fifth place after lifting 200kg in the Para-powerlifting men's up to 80kg final.

Iran's Roohallah Rostami lifted an almighty 242kg for a new world record while China's Gu Xiaofei took the silver medal with 225kg.

Iraq's Rasool Mohsin claimed the bronze with 215kg.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at South Paris Arena

Controversy at South Paris Arena. Will Bayley has been penalised a point after the umpire deemed he kicked the ball in frustration after missing a shot.

Bayley insists he accidentally knocked the ball with his foot while picking it up. He argues his case with the umpire - and with officials off-court too - at great length.

Eventually he has to resume, leading 3-2 in game five. Boos from the British fans, if Bayley this could be very significant.

Image source, PA Media