Priscilla Gagné wins silver medal at IBSA international qualifier

FORT WAYNE, Indiana – It took the world and Paralympic Games champion to prevent Montreal-based Priscilla Gagné from being draped in gold Wednesday night at the International Blind Sport Federation International Qualifier judo tournament.

More than 600 athletes and staff from 40 countries are in Fort Wayne, USA for the 2019 IBSA Goalball and Judo International Qualifier aiming to secure places for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

In the women’s 52 kg, Gagné, last year’s world championship bronze medallist, lost to Inna Cherniak of Ukraine in the final. Gagné received the silver medal.

Cherniak won her Paralympic Games title in the 57 kilos in 2016 then moved to 52 kg when she won the world title in 2018. She has not lost a fight since the final at the 2015 IBSA world championships.

Gagné opened the tournament defeating Cynthia Simon of the U.S. in the quarterfinal then Ayumi Ishii of Japan in the semifinal. She ended both those bouts at the 0:49 second mark. Gagné was the only fully blind athletes entered in the category.

In men’s 60 kilos, Justin Karn of Hamilton took seventh spot.

Judokas can use their results from Fort Wayne towards their place in the world rankings. These determine which athletes get to the compete at the Paralympic Games.

In goalball, Canada needs a top-two finish in both men’s and women’s play to gain a berth for Tokyo 2020.

Midway through the tournament, the Canadian women are 0-2 and are sixth in their pool while the men are fourth in pool A with a 1-2 record.

Full information: http://www.ibsafortwayne2019.com/