The second day of the IWBF Women's Repechage in Osaka, Japan, featured four compelling matchups as teams continued to battle for a chance to secure a coveted Paralympic ticket.
In the opening game, Australia faced a tough start against Thailand, trailing 18-10 after the first quarter. However, a spirited comeback in the second quarter saw Australia level the game at 23-23. Despite Thailand holding a slim lead of 30-28 at halftime, Australia tightened their defense in the second half, limiting Thailand to only 8 points while converting their own opportunities to secure a crucial 48-38 victory. Georgia Munro-Cook led Australia with an impressive 22 points and 13 rebounds, supported by Kylie Gauci's 12 points. For Thailand, Natnapa Ponin and Saowalak Nanthasombat led the scoring with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
In the second match, Spain clashed with Canada in a physical encounter. Despite Spain's efforts to cause an upset, Canada capitalized on their physicality and extended an 8-point lead by halftime. Kady Dandaneau's outside shooting propelled Canada to a commanding lead in the third quarter, securing a 22-12 win in that period and ultimately a second consecutive victory, 77-49, for Canada. Kady Dandenau and Arinn Young were instrumental for Canada, scoring 35 and 20 points, respectively. Beatriz Zudaire and Naiara Rodriguez led Spain's scoring with 12 and 10 points. The win sits Canada at the top of Group B.
Meanwhile, Germany asserted their dominance with an emphatic 93-14 victory over Algeria. Demonstrating their strength and depth, Germany's balanced scoring attack ensured a comprehensive win and set the stage for a highly anticipated showdown against Australia. Four players notched up double figures, including Mareike Miller (18), Amanda Fanariotis (17), Svenja Mayer (16) and Maya Lindholm (11), as Germany’s Head Coach Passiwan distributed playing time among the team.
Wrapping up the day's action, Japan thrilled the home crowd with their first win of the tournament, defeating France 55-38. Japan's swift pace and skilful play proved too much for France to handle in the second half, with standout performances from Mari Amimoto and Chihiro Kitada. Kitada finished with a double-double, contributing 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Amane Yanagimoto added 10 points for Japan. For France, Marion Blais led with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
As the competition at the IWBF Women's Repechage intensifies, teams are leaving it all on the court, in a bit to qualify for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Stay tuned for more updates from Asue Arena Osaka!
Photo Credit: X-1 / Shingo ITO
