Malmo 2018: Brazil seek top three finish

World-ranked No.3 Brazil have revealed the women’s team that will go for a podium finish at the 2018 International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Goalball World Championships in Malmo, Sweden, from 3-8 June.

If the team achieves their aim, the hosts of the 2016 Paralympic Games will secure their place at the next edition at Tokyo 2020.

Brazil feel they could even claim the title after reaching fourth place at April’s Malmo Intercup, an unofficial test event for the World Championships.

The performance of the athletes was very positive according to coach Dailton Nascimento:

"The preparation of the Brazilian team for this competition is very good. There have already been four training phases and we are going to the fifth, a very important stage that precedes the World Championships, the main challenge of the Brazilian national team in 2018.

“Our expectations are the best, as we have now competed at an international tournament with the best teams in the world, and we made great games. This gave us more motivation and a sense that we can win a medal in the World Championships and the spot for Tokyo.”

To potentially reach the top three in Malmo and stamp their passport to Tokyo 2020, Brazil will face China, the USA, Algeria, Canada and Greece in the group stages. They will play their first game on 5 June against China. At the 2014 World Championships in Espoo, Finland, Brazil finished fifth.

Full roster

Alaine Lilian da Silva Marques

Ana Carolina Duarte Custódio Streets

Gleyse Priscila Portiolli Henrique

Jéssica Gomes Vitorino

Ana Gabriely Brito Assunção

Moniza Aparecida de Lima

The 2018 IBSA Goalball World Championships will feature 28 of the world’s best men’s and women’s teams competing between 3-8 June.

For more information, including the full match schedule, media accreditation and tickets, visit the official World Championships website.