Quilter's Paralympic preparation is spot-on (From The Argus)

Quilter's Paralympic preparation is spot-on

12:54pm Thursday 4th September 2008

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Ben Quilter has decided to miss the glittering opening ceremony at the Paralympics because he wants to improve his medal chances.

The Brighton judo player, 26, will compete in the under-60kg, which is scheduled a day later.

Quilter, who is visually impaired, said: “I’m sure it will be a fantastic ceremony but I’m in Beijing to put in a performance on the mat rather than enjoy an opening day experience in a big stadium.

“I’m sure the if I went to the ceremony it would be an ordeal as far as my legs were concerned. Standing up for about six hours will sap my strength.

“This is crunch time and I want to give myself the best possible chance to win a medal.

“I am going in believing I can win one. There are a gold, a silver and two bronzes up for grabs. It will be a tight competition with 12 of us in it.”

Quilter has already revealed how he almost quit the sport after being overlooked for Athens and the snub will provide extra motivation this time round.

He said: “I was told that whoever won the under-66kg would go to Greece but they chose the guy I beat.

“Now I can show them what they missed four years ago.”

Richard Schabel aims to celebrate his 50th birthday and then claim a belated birthday present – Paralympic gold.

The wheelchair field athlete from East Grinstead celebrates his milestone on September 2 and will compete in the discus and club events.

Schabel believes he can medal at the fourth attempt.

He was fourth in the club, a derivation of the javelin, at Atlanta in 1996.

Schabel, who has trained at Imberhorne School, was sixth in the pentathlon in Sydney four years later and was fourth in the discus in Athens.

He said: “I’m aiming to come away with a gold medal as I have come so close to a medal before.

“It would be a nice birthday present.”

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