Canadian men’s wheelchair basketball team suffers opening game loss
It was a tough start to the Paralympic Games for the men’s wheelchair basketball team as they were defeated by Spain 78-41 on Day 2.
While Spain only outscored the Canadians 18-14 and 15-10 in the second and third quarters, the most damage was done at the beginning and end of the game with Spain picking up a 23-10 lead after the first quarter and finishing the game outscoring Canada 22-7.
Regina’s Nik Goncin led the red and white in scoring with 15 points, while fellow Regina teammate Garrett Ostepchuk picked up three points.
Next up for Canada is a game against Turkey on Day 3.
Read more at wheelchairbasketball.ca.
Rousell eliminated in epee preliminary round
Competition at the Paralympic Games came to an end for Asquith wheelchair fencer Ryan Rousell on Day 2 after he failed to advance out of the preliminary round in the men’s Category A epee event.
Rousell had a couple of close duels but was ultimately defeated in all six of his duels, losing 5-1 to Italy’s Emanuele Lambertini, 5-2 to Germany’s Maurice Schmidt, 5-4 to Russian Paralympic Committee’s Maxim Shaburov, 5-0 to Turkey’s Hakan Akkaya, 5-1 to Iraq’s Zainulabdeen Al-Madhkhoori and 5-4 to China’s Jianquan Tian.
“For a first Paralympics out of a very long career, I’m pleased with my performance,” said Rousell to the Canadian Paralympic Committee. “I certainly wish I could get more victories, but for the people I was fencing, and I know their calibre, I think I did very, very well for myself.”
Paralympic notes: Read the full Day 2 recap on Paralylmpic.ca…Para cyclist Tristen Chernove won silver on the track in men’s C1 3,000-metre individual pursuit…Para swimmer Nicolas-Guy Turbide also won a silver medal in men’s S13 100-m backstroke…Canada’s medal count: 4 (0 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze).