Japan have won gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games wheelchair rugby event, in what is a history making moment for the Cherry Blossoms. Japan had never taken the top spot at the Paralympics before, yet claimed gold in Paris following the 48-41 win over the heavily favoured USA.
Japan entered the Paralympic Final delighted with their accomplishment, as the side from the Far East had never gotten into the Gold medal fixture within their wheelchair rugby history. Whilst Japan were happy to be on the pinnacle stage, the United States maintained their eight year quest for gold at the Games, as the Americans had never failed to get on the Paralympic podium, but settled for silver medals in 2016 and 2021.
It was the USA who got on the score-board first, after winning the tip-off and firing the ball down the court. It was Chuck Aoki who scored, with the high-point player getting back-to-back tries in the early goings. Japan began their points tally through Daisuke Ikezaki, with the blonde-haired dynamo contributing a consecutive brace of his own.
The first turnover went the way of the Americans, with Chuck Aoki stealing the ball from the Japanese grasp to hand an advantageous edge to his side. Sarah Adam made her mark for the States, as the history making athlete continued on with her trailblazing performance as the nation’s first female wheelchair rugby Paralympian, by crossing over for the USA’s fifth score, to build a slight but significant two-point lead (5-3).
Josh Wheeler was the first American to require an equipment fix, as he lost a wheel in a heavy collision yet impressively kept going in the flow of attack. Wheeler found Adam, with the solid points-scorer adding to her ever-growing tally. The USA took an impressive three point lead into the end of the first quarter, with Aoki stalling for time on the Japanese try-line to make every second count.
END OF FIRST QUARTER: JAPAN 11 – 14 USA
Japan came out hot at the start of the second quarter, and were too hot for the USA’s liking. Aoki called a team time-out within the first minute of the period, with the huddle providing the perfect environment for the red, white and blues to calm their heads in the gold medal match.
Japan secured a turnover, with the high press defensive approach reaping the rewards on the court. Ikezaki read the pass in the centre of the court, stole the ball and shipped the pass to Yukinobu Ike who waited in the in-goal area. Seiya Norimatsu then made his presence felt, as he contributed a score to keep Japan’s points tally ticking over.
Adams then continued to live up to her billing as a powerful highlight reel, as the blistering forward forced her way past Ikezaki, with such momentum that she sent the defensive high-point player tumbling down to the deck. USA continued to utilise their key defence, with a massive turnover coming from Wheeler, as he forced Yuki Hasegawa into the post and off the court. The Americans were over excited after the turnover, as they squandered a break away against the run of play, with mid point player Mason Symons unable to collect the bouncing ball down the court.
Katsuya Hashimoto reminded the Americans of his status as the fastest player in the Paralympic Final, with the Japan flyer racing away down the court to score his side’s 21st try and reducing down the deficit to one point. Hashimoto then capitalised on this effort with an immediate turnover, before he battled his way over the try-line to level up the match (23-23). Japan fought valiantly to take the lead just before the break, despite the ‘hail Mary’ court-length pass attempt from Wheeler to close out the half.
END OF SECOND QUARTER (HALF TIME): JAPAN 23 – 22 USA
The second half commenced much the same way as the first did, with Chuck Aoki bossing the court and crossing the try-line. There was a major turnover for the USA, as thanks to the relentless pressure from 0.5 player Jeff Butler, the clock timed out on Ikezaki following a brilliant defensive effort. The Americans took the ball back down the court to level up the scorings, with the pressure mounting in the gold medal final.
Adams was then back in to score, reminding the wheelchair rugby landscape how irrespective of gender, she is amongst the world’s best. The inclusion of Adams does benefit the Americans from a technical perspective, as having a female on the court enables the team to add an extra 0.5 classification points of ability to their line-up. Hashimoto returned fire with some lightning quick pace, to evade the collision of Wheeler who covered in defence.
Yukinobu then made a key block to disrupt the American’s attacking structure, as he forced a defensive turnover that panicked the United States. The USA ran out of player time-outs with little under four minutes left on the clock for the third period, with the coaches forced to intervene with their own time-out calls. The scoring crept up into the 30s mid way through the third quarter, and it would have been higher had it not been for the impressive defensive efforts of Lee Fredette of the United States.
However, try as the Americans might, Japan began to build a significant lead into the final quarter. With two minutes left on the third period, Japan were three points to the good (33-30), and gladly retorted each American attack with a try of their own. Hashimoto continued to build his personal try tally with his name constantly shown upon the electronic board. The final act of the quarter saw Josh Wheeler sent to the sin bin for a reach-in foul, with Japan taking a three point position into the final quarter.
END OF THIRD QUARTER: JAPAN 35 – 32 USA
The final tip-off of the 2024 Paralympics went up into a wall of noise, as the lift almost came off Paris’ Champ-de-Mars Arena. Japan won the tip-off and were immediately away to score. This was then followed up with a vital turnover, as the Cherry Blossoms added two consecutive points for a five point lead (37-32). Japan wanted to use every second on offer, with Kishi Kotaro’s side happy to run down the clock to Paralympic glory.
The USA knew they were up against it, five points adrift and without any time-outs is an uncomfortable position to be in for any match, never mind the gold medal finale of the Paralympics. Japan relished in the extra opportunities for breaks, and took their sweet time in adding an extra 40 seconds onto their attacks with well-managed time outs. Making things worse for the Americans was their decision to play under-strength, with just 8.0 of the available 8.5 classification points out on the court in the final minutes.
Japan maintained their five point advantage, with the heads beginning to drop from the US players. Yukinobu scored his 14th try of the game, as the head coach of the Freedom Wheelchair Rugby Club in Kochi extended Japan’s lead to a staggering six tries (41-35). A dual-athlete having previously medalled at the Paralympics in Wheelchair Basketball, the 44-year-old was a linchpin for Japan, who built the team around him.
The United States re-introduced Sarah Adam and Josh Wheeler, to bring their classification points back up to the maximised 8.5. However, whilst the Japanese players sharpened their skills, the unforced errors began to pile high for the United States. Yukinobu crossed over once more, as Japan extended their lead to a stunning seven points (43-36). Dominant in all areas of the game, Japan knew they had the gold medals secured and played out the match’s final two minutes as rightful world champions.
The United States had to settle for silver medals for a third consecutive Paralympic Games, with Japan making the most out of their maiden trip to the Gold medal match with such an emphatic performance in Paris. All eyes now turn to Los Angeles in 2028, with the USA hoping to end a 12-year wait for Paralympic gold in front of home fans.
END OF FOURTH QUARTER (FULL TIME): JAPAN 48 – 41 USA
JAPAN: 48
TRIES: 48 (Hashimoto x19, Yukinobu x16, Ikezaki x6, Norimatsu x3, Ogawa x1)
TURNOVERS: 2 (Yukinobu x2)
STEALS:Â 3 (Hashimoto x2, Yukinobu x1)
PENALTIES: 1 (Norimatsu x1)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: 41
TRIES: 41 (Aoki x14, Adam x14, Wheeler x7, Newby x3, Brackett x2, O’Neill x1)
TURNOVERS: 9 (Aoki x2, Wheeler x2, Butler x1, Adam x1, Fredette x1)
STEALS:Â 1 (Aoki x1)
PENALTIES: 6 (Aoki x2, Wheeler x2, Adam x1, Symons x1)