Rio Paralympics goalball pools announced
Canada men's, women's teams have tough draws
Canada's men's and women's goalball teams were dealt difficult draws for the upcoming Paralympic Games.
The pool selection for the competition took place at the Arena do Futuro in Rio on Tuesday.
Men´s groups <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Goalball?src=hash">#Goalball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rio2016?src=hash">#Rio2016</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Paralympics">@Paralympics</a> <a href="https://t.co/euNTt9WV7p">pic.twitter.com/euNTt9WV7p</a>
—@Rio2016_enWomen´s groups <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Goalball?src=hash">#Goalball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rio2016?src=hash">#Rio2016</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Paralympics">@Paralympics</a> <a href="https://t.co/oGDnAOpw1l">pic.twitter.com/oGDnAOpw1l</a>
—@Rio2016_enBoth Canadian teams won bronze at the 2015 Parapan Am Games in Toronto.
The men's side will face Parapan Am gold-medal winners Brazil in pool play, with the following teams rounding out the group:
- Algeria — gold medal at the 2016 IBSA Africa regional championships
- Sweden — bronze at the 2015 IBSA World Games in Seoul
- Germany — finished fifth at the 2015 World Games
The women's team's biggest test will come against Russia, which won gold at the 2016 Pajulahti Games in Finland. The rest of the pool includes the following teams:
- China — silver medals at 2015 IBSA World Games and Asia/Pacific Championships in Hangzhou, China
- Turkey — bronze at the 2016 Pajulahti Games
- Ukraine — fifth at the Pajulahti Games
The Paralympic Games will be held in Rio from September 7-18.