Australian Ben Tudhope eyes off men's snowboard cross medal at Beijing Winter Paralympics

Australia's Ben Tudhope is a medal chance in the men's snowboard cross SB-LL2 at the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games after advancing to the quarterfinals as the fourth-fastest qualifier.

Tudhope's time of 1 minute and 2.76 seconds in the first of his two runs had him well-placed among the 16 athletes who progressed to the first stage of the finals, which will be contested on Monday.

«Qualifying isn't too important for me, it's all about the race day tomorrow,» Tudhope told the Seven Network.

«But it's great that I got a good time down and now I'm in the mix.»

Tudhope — who is the Australian co-captain in Beijing — is competing at his third Winter Paralympics.

Ukraine's athletes put a difficult week behind them as they clinched seven medals — including three golds in biathlon — on an emotional first day at the Beijing Winter Paralympics.

He made his debut at the 2014 Games in Sochi as a 14-year-old.

Among other Australian results, Patrick Jensen — with his guide Amelia Hodgson — finished sixth in the men's super-G vision impaired category.

Jensen stopped the clock at 1:16.25. He was eighth in the men's downhill on Saturday.

Great Britain's Neil Simpson — guided by his brother Andrew — won the super-G gold in 1:08.91.

Australia's co-flag bearer at the opening ceremony and four-time Paralympian, Mitch Gourley (standing), and Sam Tait (sitting) did not finish in their respective men's super-G events.