29th July sees the 10th edition of Asia-Oceania Championships (the first 4 editions were known as Oceania Championship), taking place at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. This is the first time since 2019 the Championship has been held, after the 2021 edition in Auckland, New Zealand, was cancelled due to the COVID19 Pandemic.
4 countries will be competing – Japan (hosts), Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, with the winner taking the solitary automatic spot from the region for the 2024 Paris Paralympics. The 3 countries that are left from these championships, will have the choice of competing at the last chance tournament for the Paralympics, to be held in April next year, at a venue to be confirmed.
Japan Wheelchair Rugby Federation have said they are looking forward to hosting this event 2 years after hosting the wheelchair rugby tournament at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Australia come into these Championships having won the last 2, defeating Japan both times and are looking at building on their legacy in this sport. Japan won the Championship last in 2015, having defeated Australia back then in Chiba, Japan; while New Zealand’s solitary win at the Championships has been in 2005 which were held in Brakpan, South Africa. South Korea come in to this tournament, looking for their first medal, with their best finish being 4th that they have achieved 4 times in their 5 attempts at the champs.
There are 3 countries that have already qualified from Europe for Paris Paralympics 2024 – France (hosts), Great Britain and Denmark.
All matches will be live streamed to YouTube –
English commentary – https://www.youtube.com/@worldwheelchairrugby6250/streams
Japanese commentary – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOe-EdwWb1n51c4-UEzNS_A