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“We’re on the map now” – Australia find glory in defeat

Date: September 1, 2021

Category: Goalball

There was glory in defeat for Australia as they bowed out of the goalball tournament at Makuhari Messe Hall on Wednesday.

Even though they were beaten 10-6 in the quarterfinal by world No.1 Turkey, the Aussie Belles will leave Japan well satisfied with their efforts.

They came into Tokyo 2020 without a win in the Paralympic Games since the Atlanta 1996 Games but progressed to the women’s knockouts for the first time in their history after beating Canada and RPC in the group stage.

“We’re on the map now,” Tyan Taylor said. “We’ve proven we can be here. We deserve to be here.

“We’ve been saying that for years. Now people can actually see that, it’s absolutely amazing.

“It doesn’t matter what goes on here, that momentum is definitely there.”

Australia coach Peter Corr urged his side to push for more in the future.

“We’ve got to get better,” he said. “We did great but we can do better, and we will find a way.”

Turkey will face Japan in the semi-finals after the host nation beat Israel 4-1 on Wednesday.

Turkey beat Japan when the two sides met in the group stages on the opening day of competition, and Japan’s Rieko Takahashi says her side is determined to not let it happen again.

“That was a big disappointment, so we really want revenge this time,” she said. “We’re going to prepare, concentrate and go for them.”

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