Japan Wins First Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby Gold

Japan claimed its first gold medal in Paralympic wheelchair rugby by defeating the USA 48-41 in Paris, marking a historic victory as they had previously secured bronze in the last two Games. Katsuya Hashimoto was instrumental in the win, scoring 19 tries, while Japan maintained possession more effectively than the USA, who turned over the ball nine times. The defeat leaves the USA without a gold medal in this event since 2008, with Team USA's Chuck Aoki expressing disappointment after contributing 14 tries in the match. Australia secured bronze after beating Great Britain, improving from their fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Games. This victory for Japan and the ongoing challenges for Team USA highlight the competitive landscape of wheelchair rugby as they both look toward future competitions. The performance of both teams sets the stage for a potentially exciting rivalry in the years to come.