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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Fraser Watson

Marcus Rashford sends messages to GB Paralympic heroes in Tokyo after medal rush

England footballer Marcus Rashford was clearly excited by the ParalympicsGB team's medal rush on the first day of the Games in Tokyo.

Rashford, currently sidelined at Manchester United as he recovers from shoulder surgery, sent a series of congratulatory messages to GB heroes as they claimed six medals, with the highlight a 15th Paralympic title for Dame Sarah Storey.

Storey, 43, broke her world best by more than four seconds in the C5 3,000m individual pursuit qualifying and in the final caught team-mate Crystal Lane-Wright, who matched her silver medal from Rio 2016.

She is now just one behind Mike Kenny's British record of 16 golds and Rashford duly reached her out on Twitter, tagging her alongside the Gold medal and clapping hands emoji's - and also said "Congrats Crystal" for completing a British one-two.

Marcus Rashford has been sending messages of congratulations to British Paralympians (Pool via REUTERS)

There was also silver for tandem pair Steve Bate and Adam Duggleby in the B 4,000m pursuit and Rashford, MBE, replied to their 'Silver Selfie' with a "Congrats boys."

There were also three swimming medals for ParalympicsGB, with silvers for Reece Dunn in the S14 100m butterfly and Tully Kearney in the S5 200m freestyle, as well as bronze for Toni Shaw in the S9 400m freestyle.

Rashford has made no secret of his support for ParalympicsGB, labelling them "real life superheroes" before the games and tweeting a number of athletes with good luck messages.

And yesterday, he urged people to support the team.

Great Britain's Dame Sarah Storey was tweeted by Rashford after winning Gold in the Women's C5 3000m Individual Pursuit (PA)

"Let’s all get behind ParalympicsGB," he said.

"Good luck to everyone involved. Opening ceremony today on C4. Events start tomorrow.

"I’ll definitely be tuning in."

As well as the action in the velodrome and the pool, there was GB representation in four other sports for the likes of Rashford to enjoy on the opening day in Tokyo.

The wheelchair rugby team were 50-47 winners over Canada in Pool B - but against the same country the women's wheelchair basketball team paid the price for a disappointing third quarter as they lost 73-54. It leaves them facing a crucial clash with hosts Japan on Thursday.

Strictly Come Dancing star Will Bayley, world champion Ross Wilson and Aaron McKibbin all made winning starts to their respective table tennis campaigns - but there were defeats for both Piers Gilliver and Gemma Collis-McCann in the sabre events at the wheelchair fencing.

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