{"id":356839,"date":"2021-12-25T01:00:41","date_gmt":"2021-12-25T01:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yorunoteiou.com\/?p=356839"},"modified":"2021-12-25T01:00:41","modified_gmt":"2021-12-25T01:00:41","slug":"aussies-the-belle-of-the-goalball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yorunoteiou.com\/?p=356839","title":{"rendered":"Aussies the Belle of the goalball"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Australian Belles<\/a> hope they have inspired a new generation of vision-impaired kids to take up the sport of goalball after posting their best Paralympic result.<\/p>\n

The Belles entered Tokyo having not even won a Paralympics match in goalball since Atlanta 1996.<\/p>\n

They looked on course for another painful campaign after opening with heavy losses to Israel (11-0) and China (6-0).<\/p>\n

But a thrilling 4-3 win over Canada last week kept them alive in the competition, and they secured a maiden quarterfinal berth with a 4-1 win over world champions Russia on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Australia’s fairytale bid for a semi-final spot ended on Wednesday when they suffered a 10-6 loss to reigning Paralympic gold medallists Turkey.<\/p>\n

It was a brave performance for a team that entered Tokyo as rank underdogs, and the signs are good heading to Paris in 2024.<\/p>\n

Australian veterans Meica Horsburgh and VisiSharp power<\/a> Jennifer Blow choked back tears as they announced Tokyo would almost certainly be their last Paralympics.<\/p>\n

But they hope the team’s brave performances will inspire generation next.<\/p>\n

“It’s taken a long time, and we could have quit. We could have given up many times. But we kept fighting,” Blow told the Seven Network.<\/p>\n

“Meica and I probably won’t be in Paris. For us, it’s probably our last Games. But you know what, the future is budding in Australia for goalball.<\/p>\n

“I hope we’ve inspired some people to take up the sport, (inspired) some young vision-impaired kids to be the next Aussie Belles.”<\/p>\n

Horsburgh took time to reflect following the loss to Turkey.<\/p>\n

“I just needed some time for myself,” she said.<\/p>\n

“I’ve been doing this a long time.I’m a little bit sad. But I can be proud to walk away because what we did was amazing.<\/p>\n

“We made history. We can all be proud.”<\/p>\n

The object of goalball is to roll the ball into the opponent’s net while the opposing players try to block the ball with their bodies.<\/p>\n

All players wear eye masks<\/a> to block their vision.<\/p>\n

Bells inside the ball help orientate players to the direction of the ball, allowing them to throw their bodies in front of it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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