The 2024 IWBF Women's Repechage in Osaka, Japan, culminated in a day of thrilling competition as the final round of group games unfolded.
The day began with a tense battle between Thailand and Algeria, both aiming to avoid the bottom spot in Group A. In a closely contested match, Thailand showed resilience despite early nerves. Algeria managed to edge the first quarter by just one point, but Thailand rallied in the second quarter to take a slim three-point lead at halftime. Led by Natnapa Ponin's impressive 23-point performance, Thailand secured a hard-fought victory over Algeria with a final score of 56-42, claiming the third spot. Algeria's Djamila Khemgani contributed 22 points, while Kheira Zairi added 14 points.
Meanwhile, in Group B, the Canadians asserted their dominance with a commanding performance against France, securing a clean sweep in their final group game. Canada cruised to a resounding 76-40 victory, setting the stage for a crucial clash with Algeria to secure a ticket to Paris. Arinn Young led the scoring with 26 points, supported by Kady Dandeneau's 22 points and Rosalie Lalonde's 12 points, while Marion Blais led France's scoring with 14 points.
Germany also demonstrated their prowess, claiming the top spot in Group B with a confidence-boosting win over Australia. Led by Captain Mareike Miller's stellar performance of 29 points and 14 rebounds, Germany powered to a 70-33 triumph, solidifying their position and setting up a crossover against France for a coveted ticket to Paris. Germany's Svenja Mayer and Lisa Bergenthal contributed well with 15 and 11 points respectively, while Kylie Gauci was the only Australian player to reach double figures with 11 points.
The last game of the day witnessed a thrilling hard-fought battle, with Spain securing the second spot in Group B with a gritty 64-45 victory over host nation Japan. Despite Japan's best efforts to stage a comeback, Spain's dominance in the third quarter proved decisive. Playmakers Beatriz Zudaire and Sonia Ruiz led Spain's scoring with 15 and 12 points respectively, while Chihiro Kitada shone with a game-high 20 points for Japan.
With the group games concluded, the stage is set for the final battles to determine which teams will punch their tickets to the Paris 2024 Paralympics. As anticipation mounts and excitement builds, all eyes are on the matchups that will shape the journey to glory.
Finals Day Schedule - 20 April 2024
- 10:30: Final 1: Canada vs Algeria
- 13:00: Final 2: Spain vs Thailand
- 15:30 Final 3: Germany vs France
- 18:00: Final 4: Australia vs Japan
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