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Rena goes for Gold
30.08.12
INISHOWEN will be
cheering on Paralympic hopeful Rena McCarron Rooney
as the Games open in London today.
Rena, 47, originally from Slavery, Buncrana, will
compete for Ireland in the table tennis event hoping
to add to her already impressive haul of medals.
Rena, who suffered spinal injuries in a road
accident in 1979, works as a part-time Sports
Development Officer with the Irish Wheelchair
Association in Galway. She has been involved in
table tennis for over 15 years.
The Buncrana woman's medal success over the years
includes two individual golds in 2011 at the Copa
Tango IX and the Copa Costa Rica. She also picked up
team golds in the Slovenian Open in 2004 and
2005/2006 Irish Opens. |
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Rena McCarron Rooney who competes for
Ireland in the Paralympic Games 2012. |
Rena, who is married to
Irish team-mate Ronan Rooney, trains at the
Kingfisher Club in Galway. She has competed at the
European Championships in 2003 and 2011, winning
team bronze on both occasions.
Rena, whose siblings include well-known Buncrana
accountant, Cathy O'Neill, is ranked an impressive
ninth in the world rankings.
Singles table tennis matches are played over the
best of five games, with the first player to 11
points - by a margin of two clear points - winning
each game. The singles events each start with a
group stage, with the best players progressing to
the knockout stages.
Team matches consist of four singles matches and one
doubles match, each played over the best of five
games. The winners of the semi-finals play in the
gold medal match and the losers of the semi-finals
compete for the bronze medal.
Meanwhile, Donegal is also cheering on the county's
only other competitor in the Games - Anne Marie
McDaid from Ramelton.
Multiple Sclerosis sufferer, Anne Marie, 47, will
compete in the rowing, mixed cox four - two seat
event. Rena and Anne Marie are among 49 athletes
respresenting Ireland in the Paralympic Games which
were declared open following a glittering ceremony
last night. |
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