Aussies on gold hunt on Paralympic day 1

Australia is on the hunt for numerous gold medals as day one of competition gets underway at the Beijing Paralympic Games.

World record holder Matt Cowdrey, 19, will be the one to watch in the pool as he attempts to win the first of what he hopes will be eight gold medals at Beijing.

The dual gold medallist's attempt to replicate US swim star Michael Phelps' Olympic effort will start with the 100m butterfly at the Water Cube.

Fellow swimmers Ben Austin, a triple Paralympian, and rising star Annabelle Williams will also launch their Beijing campaigns on Sunday in their classes of the butterfly event.

Six potential gold medals await at the Laoshan Velodrome, where Australia's cyclists, including former winter Paralympian Michael Milton, will hit the track.

But the first gold medal for Australia could come through 10-time Paralympian and shooting veteran Libby Kosmala, who is aiming for her 10th gold medal.

One of an elite group of Australian athletes sitting on a career total of nine gold medals, Kosmala is once again aiming to top Australia's all-time record with a 10th at Beijing.

If she makes it through the morning's qualifications, she will shoot off for gold at the final at 12pm local time (1400 AEST).

The table tennis and men's and women's basketball competitions also kick off on Sunday.