Daphne Schrager has ensured ParalympicsGB have a first medal on the opening day in Paris.

But can Steve Bate, with guide Chris Latham, secure a first gold?

Their race for glory against the Netherlands' Tristan Bangma and his pilot Patrick Bos is moments away!

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Velodrome

Image source, Reuters

Daphne Schrager is world champion at C2 3km individual pursuit, but in the combined category we have at Paralympic Games, she was ultimately outclassed.

Still, at just 22 years old, she is a real one to watch in future Games.

Image source, Getty Images

ParalympicsGB's Daniel Bethell came out on top against New Zealand's Wojtek Czyz, beating him 21-5 21-2 with a certain Jurgen Klopp sitting in the stands.

Bethell said he heard former Liverpool manager Klopp "yelling out ‘well done Dan'" - and prior to the match Klopp posted a message to Czyz on Instagram wishing his friend "good luck" at the Games.

Bethell added: "It’s amazing for someone of that calibre in the sporting world to be here at the Paralympics supporting para badminton.

"I got a thumbs up from him as well which was really special, a surreal moment. It’s another thing I’ll always remember about this Paralympics."

Bethell, who won silver in the men’s SL3 singles in Tokyo, will face Japan's Daisuke Fujihara in his second group match game tomorrow.

“I’ve had a really good start to the tournament which was the focus going into that match.

"It’s obviously completely different having a crowd, which is completely different from Tokyo. I just wanted to go and settle in and I did that exactly how I wanted to," said Bethell.

Image source, Getty Images

It's time for some para-table tennis action with Great Britain's Thomas Matthews and Megan Shackleton taking on Australia's Jessy Chen and Daniela Di Toro for a place in the last 16.

The GB pair are seeded 15 while the Australian duo are slightly behind in 18th.

Both teams have been introduced to the crowd and we're ready to get this one under way.

Image source, PA Media

Daphne Schrager, speaking to Channel 4 after winning women's 3000m C1-3 individual pursuit silver:

"It’s just incredible. A year ago I didn’t think I’d be on a bike again after I crashed, so to come here and break a world record in the process - that’s all I could do.

"Sadly it wasn’t enough. There’s always someone that's hungry for more but I can walk away happy and the emotions are just happiness that I’m leaving with a medal at all.

"I’m really happy with the process and winning a medal - the first medal of the games.

"I can build on it for the road and to win a medal at all - there’s many people back home who would love to be here and they don’t get selected so I feel really honoured to ride here."

Was it tough to get on the track after Kadeena Cox’s fall?

"Kadeena was one of the first people who got me into cycling and we’ve been really close during the process.

"I’m gutted for her and I thought we could have a podium picture together and sometimes sport is this way - I know only too well."

But after that huge disappointment and concern for Kadeena Cox, Paralympics debutant Daphne Schrager earned Great Britain's first medal with women's C1-3 3000m individual pursuit silver.

Let's hear what Schrager, 22, had to say following that achievement.

Channel 4 are reporting that, while devastated after suffering that fall in the women's C4-5 500m time trial final final, GB's Kadeena Cox has not sustained an injury. Hopefully she will be able to come back and compete for a medal later in the Games, with the mixed C1-5 team sprint taking place on Sunday.

Image source, PA Media

The final event on the opening day of action inside the velodrome comes in the men's B 4000m individual pursuit.

That will see ParalympicsGB's Steve Bate, with guide Chris Latham, race for gold against the Netherlands' Tristan Bangma and his pilot Patrick Bos.

That is due to take place at 16:13 BST.

Daphne Schrager has just won ParalympicsGB's first medal of the Games in the women's 3000m C1-3 individual pursuit.

That came after four-time Paralympic champion Kadeena Cox crashed out in the final of the women's C4-5 500m time trial.

Teenage British Para-swimmers William Ellard and Olivia Newman-Baronius comfortably came through their respective S14 100m butterfly heats at La Defense Arena and will be strong favourites to win their finals.

Ellard swims at 17:35, while world record holder Newman-Baronius' final follows at 17:42 BST and she will be alongside team-mates Poppy Maskill, who set a blistering pace in the second heat, and Louise Fiddes.

Toni Shaw also stood out in the women’s S9 400m freestyle and will be hoping for a medal in her final (16:40), while Tully Kearney led from the front in the women’s S5 200m freestyle. The 27-year-old will be hoping to upgrade the silver she won at Tokyo 2020 in the final (19:40).

Para table-tennis star Bly Twomey, 14, got her Paralympic career off to an outstanding start, alongside Felicity Pickard, with a 3-0 win against Norway in the women’s doubles WD14 quarter-final. They take on China at 17:30 for a place in the final.

Image source, Reuters

Daphne Schrager congratulates Wang Xiaomei, who celebrates her triumph with a Chinese flag inside the velodrome.

Tears of joy for Schrager, a silver medallist on her Paralympic debut at the age of 22!

Wang Xiaomei of China is off to a strong start and has established a healthy early advantage.

Can Daphne Schrager pull this back? It's going to take a huge effort.

Image source, Reuters

So, Daphne Schrager is guaranteed a silver.

But can she deliver a first gold for ParalympicsGB here? Away she goes...

22-year-old Daphne Schrager is making her Paralympic debut today in Paris.

A strong medal contender, she is world champion in the C2 division. However, this event sees classifications combined.

From a farm in Wiltshire, she grew up with cerebral palsy and was inspired by London 2012. On finishing her A-levels in 2019, she joined British Cycling's programme.

The lockdown for Covid-19 in 2020 meant she was able to train more because the roads were so clear, she told the BBC.

She continued: "I'll cherish the moment [in Paris]. Just to take it all in and enjoy the experience and try not to get too nervous."

"I don't think my disability is a disadvantage anymore. It makes me feel like I can do anything."

Writing for British Cycling, she also said she "never thought" she would make the Paralympics, making today quite the milestone.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Debutant Daphne Schrager will shortly bid for gold in the women's C1-3 individual pursuit final, while tandem pair Steve Bate and Chris Latham will later contest the B individual pursuit gold medal event.

At the pool, European champions William Ellard and Olivia Newman-Baronius will hope to win their first Paralympic medals in their respective S14 butterfly events (17:35 and 17:42), and Tully Kearney will seek to go one better than her Tokyo silver in the S5 200m freestyle.

Other names to watch out for on Thursday include Spanish swimmer Teresa Perales, her nation’s most successful Paralympian with 27 medals, in the S2 backstroke.

Belarusian swimmer Ihar Boki - competing as a neutral athlete - aims to add to his 16 gold medals in the S13 100m butterfly.

Li Zhangyu has just beaten China team-mate Liang Weicong to gold in the men's C1 3,000m individual pursuit final, the pair celebrating their double medal haul together with their nation's flag.

Not a bad start for the nation which topped the Tokyo Paralympic Games medal table...

Image source, Getty Images

Daphne Schrager will be the next ParalympicsGB athlete in action at the veldorome, contesting the Women's C1-3 3000m individual pursuit final at 15:41 BST.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Velodrome

We can see into the central area of the Velodrome from the press seats, where Kadeena Cox was surrounded by members of GB support staff. She looked unsteady on her feet and was embraced by a colleague.

Cox suffered a calf injury earlier this year - which has meant she is not competing in athletics, as she has at previous Games - and a relapse of her multiple sclerosis.

Once we have confirmation as to what happened, we will let you know.

Image source, PA Media

That really is devastating for Kadeena Cox, who appeared unable to get her balance at the start of her ride.

Hopefully we will hear from her shortly on that - and most importantly that she is OK after that fall.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Velodrome

Image source, Reuters

Caroline Groot, amid a weird atmosphere in the velodrome, cruises to the first Paralympic gold of Paris 2024. Netherlands top the medal table.

France's Marie Patouillet takes silver - her ride was greeted with deafening acclaim earlier, the celebrations now are more muted, perhaps as the crowd still process that Kadeena Cox incident.

Bronze to Katie O'Brien of Canada.