Pistol shooting world champion Joackim Norberg is one of the five athletes selected by the car manufacturer, along with fellow shooter Martin Pour, table tennis player Alexander Ohgren, long jumper Per Jonsson and wheelchair tennis player Stefan Olsson.

All have performed at world level in the past year and could possibly represent their country at Rio 2016, according to Hans Säfström, the sports director of the Swedish Paralympic Committee (SPK). 

This is the third consecutive year Kia Motors Sweden has provided a gold scholarship, with Ohgren, Jonsson and Olsson receiving the award for the second time.

Norberg won gold at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Shooting World Championships in Suhl, Germany, last year, triumphing in the mixed 25 metre pistol SH1 event.

Ohgren took bronze in the men’s singles class three at the 2014 Para-table tennis World Championships in Beijing, while Jonsson is the reigning T13 long jump European champion .

Olsson, meanwhile, is a former world number two singles wheelchair tennis player, who has won Grand Slam doubles titles at the 2009 United States Open and Wimbledon in 2010.

He is also a past winner of both the singles and doubles events at the year-end NEC Masters,and partnered Peter Vikström to a men’s doubles success for Sweden at London 2012.

Last September, the SPK and Swedish Organisation for the Disabled (SHIF) signed a deal with sponsoring consultant Generate Partnerships, aimed at implementing a strategy to create "better conditions" in Sweden ahead of Rio 2016.

Sweden won four gold medals at the London 2012 Paralympics, in table tennis, shooting, swimming and wheelchair tennis.

The country also won four silvers and four bronzes.


Related stories
September 2014: Boost for Swedish Paralympic sport as long-term deal signed