Lucy Shuker is one of 10 athletes to receive the bursary ©Getty Images

The British Paralympic Association (BPA) has announced 10 athletes have been awarded bursaries from Hogan Lovells to support their bids to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

The law firm is the legal services provider of the BPA and launched the first edition of the bursary in 2017.

More than 50 entrants had applied to secure the latest bursary, with 10 selected.

Wheelchair racers Richard Chiassaro and Callum Hall were successful, alongside high jumper Jonathan Broom-Edwards.

Wheelchair basketball's Helen Freeman, wheelchair tennis player Lucy Shuker and wheelchair rugby player Jamie Stead have also been included along with boccia’s David Smith and Para-archer Tania Nadarajah.

Para triathlete Jade Jones-Hall and Para table tennis player Thomas Matthews complete the list of recipients.

"I’m delighted that Hogan Lovells are continuing their Para athlete bursary to support athletes in their ambitions to represent ParalympicsGB at Tokyo 2020,” said Mike Sharrock, BPA chief executive.

“We’re extremely proud of our long-standing relationship with Hogan Lovells and of how they continue to demonstrate their commitment to the Paralympic family in the UK."

The athletes will receive one-off bursaries of up to £1,500 ($1,900/€1,700) each to help them with an aspect of their career development.

The BPA state this might include purchasing and replacing vital equipment or paying for travel to training camps and competitions.

Additional coaching and training support services could also be secured through the bursary.

The initial bursaries were awarded to seven athletes in 2017, with Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympians included.

Boccia player David Smith will receive a bursary ahead of Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images
Boccia player David Smith will receive a bursary ahead of Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images

They included James Barnes-Miller, who was selected as part of the first ParalympicsGB snowboard team for PyeongChang 2018 and women’s visually impaired Para Alpine skier Kelly Gallagher, a triple medallist at the recent Para Alpine World Championships.

Tokyo 2020 hopefuls Rich Amos from boccia, wheelchair rugby player Ayaz Bhuta, archer Jodie Grinham and taekwondo athlete Leif Thobroe were also chosen.

"Watching some of our amazingly talented bursary recipients perform in Pyeongchang was a very rewarding experience, knowing our support contributed to them being able to compete on this global stage which is the pinnacle of Para sport,” said Nicholas Cheffings, a lawyer from Hogan Lovells.

“We are incredibly proud and privileged to help these and other inspiring athletes to reach their potential and we are looking forward to seeing the progress of both our inaugural and new cohorts as they progress towards Tokyo 2020."

Hogan Lovells is supporting the BPA through to Tokyo 2020 as part of a relationship between the organisations which has existed since before Beijing 2008

Throughout this period, Hogan Lovells has provided the BPA with legal advice, secondments and volunteers across a number of areas.