Goalball: Ones to Watch 2019

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced the goalball Ones to Watch for the 2019 season.

These are athletes who have the potential to make headlines, especially with the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games fast approaching. Their biographies are now available on the IPC website.

Two of them – USA’s Amanda Dennis and Lithuania’s Justas Pazarauskas – will be in action at the International Qualifier for Tokyo 2020 from 2 to 9 July in Fort Wayne, USA.

The men’s teams competing are: Argentina, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, South Korea, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, USA. The women’s teams are: Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Israel, South Korea, Spain, Ukraine, USA.

The 2019 season includes major tournaments such as the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games in August; the IBSA Goalball European Championships in October in Rostock, Germany; and the IBSA Goalball Asia/Pacific Championships in Chiba, Japan, in December.

Amanda Dennis (USA)

Veteran ready to help her side better their bronze from Rio 2016.

Justas Pazarauskas (LTU)

Part of the reigning Paralympic and European champion squad that can make another Paralympic run.

Leomon Moreno (BRA)

Key player of the team that defended their world title in Malmo, Sweden, in 2018.

Sevda Altunoluk (TUR)

Her aggressive throwing style helped Turkey reach the 2018 Worlds final and take home silver.

Thomas Steiger (GER)

Considered one of the world’s best young goalball players.