Weekend Para sport roundup: Para triathlete wins first World Cup medal; Canada Cup; Bédard returns

BESANÇON, France – Kamylle Frenette of Dieppe, N.B., made a smashing debut overseas on Sunday winning the silver medal in her inaugural Para triathlon World Cup race.

The 22-year-old Frenette was solid through the 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike and five-kilometre run to finish with a time of 1:19:09 in the women’s PTS5 category.

“I didn’t have a lot of expectations going into the race since it was my first race outside of North America,” said Frenette, who joined the Canadian program this spring. “My swim went really well. I was feeling comfortable in the water. The bike and run were also good, but I definitely have a lot to learn. I’m more than excited for the journey ahead.”

Frenette, whose disability is club feet, finished behind Gwladys Lemoussu, of France, who grabbed top spot on the podium with a time of 1:16:54. Ukraine’s Alisa Kolpakchy grabbed the final spot on the toughest classification in the women’s field with a time of 1:21:10.

Canada’s Jon Dunkerley and his guide James Cook finished eighth in the men’s visually impaired division with a time of 1:13:12.

Canada fourth at wheelchair rugby international tournament

RICHMOND, B.C. – Team Canada couldn’t overcome a tough start and lost the bronze medal game to Australia 63-56 for fourth overall on Sunday at the six-country Canada Cup wheelchair rugby tournament held at the Olympic Oval this past weekend.

‘’We had a disastrous start,’’ said Canada’s head coach Patrick Côté about the third-place game. ‘’We dug ourselves in a hole early. But the guys regrouped and we played very well the rest of the way.’’

The Canadian team fielded five new players on the squad and seven veterans with Paralympic Games experience.

‘’It was the last game of the weekend and everyone felt beat up,’’ said Canadian player Fabien Lavoie, a four-time Paralympian. ‘’But we had to carry on. It’s a different dynamic. We’ve never had so many new players. It’s motivating but also a challenge.”

Canada opened the round robin portion of the tournament with 53-45 and 58-51 victories over Sweden and Denmark. They lost their next three to Japan 53-45, the U.S. 59-44 and Australia 64-53 before facing the Aussies again for the bronze.

USA edged Japan 56-53 for the gold.

Philippe Bédard reaches semifinals in return to competition

WINDSOR, Ont. – Philippe Bédard marked his return to competition this past weekend reaching the semifinals in singles play at the Windsor Classic wheelchair tennis tournament.

The 37-year-old from Granby, Que., opened the tournament with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over 23-year-old Jason Keatseangsilp of the USA. He trounced compatriot and fourth seed Marko Golic in the quarter-finals 6-0, 6-0. Bédard lost his semi to top seed and eventual champion Casey Ratzlaff of the U.S. 7-6, 6-1.

‘’I thought it went well but it is clear I need to play more matches,’’ said Bédard, in his first tournament since the 2016 Paralympic Games. “’I’m not 20 years old anymore.’’

Canadian Jonathan Tremblay and Jean-Paul Melo of Portugal fell in the men’s doubles final.