Both the men and women's senior Goalball squads will be hoping to be on winning form at this week’s IBSA European A Championships.
The championships in Podgorica, Montenegro, is the final qualifying event for the Paralympic Games Paris 2024.
Goalball is a completely unique, dynamic team sport of skill, speed and accuracy devised to be played by blind and partially sighted people.
And the Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) will be cheering on member of staff Antonia Bunyan (pictured above), and current student Megan Smithson-Booth (pictured below), who have been selected to represent Team GB.
“This competition is one I’m really excited about as we have a chance to qualify for Paris 2024, which will be tough, but we have the talent in the squad to be able to do so,” said Megan, who is studying the Level 3 Sports Coaching course at the RNC.
Antonia and Megan will join a strong GB women’s squad that also features former RNC students Meme Robertson and Lois Turner, highlighting the College's exceptional track record of producing elite athletes.
“As a squad we are excited to attend the European Championships and keen to build on the performances and results at the recent World Games in Birmingham, where we demonstrated an ability to compete with some of the best teams in the world,” said Aaron Ford, the Women’s Head Coach.
“The competition is a final opportunity to qualify for Paris 2024 and I have no doubt that all athletes will give everything for the team to qualify for the Games. One game and one performance at a time, we will try and give those watching at home plenty to cheer about.”
The men's GB squad also boasts a significant number of ex-RNC students (Chris Colbert, Josh Murphy, Caleb Nanevie, Dan Roper and Joe Roper).
You can follow all the action from December 6 – 17 on IBSA’s YouTube channel and on Goalball UK’s social media platforms.
There’s also a lot more information about the sport in the current edition of Living with Disability magazine.
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