Tokyo Paralympics 2021: Steelers miss out on bronze in wheelchair rugby playoff, going down to Japan
Covid travel restrictions have cost one of Australia’s signature sides a medal in wheelchair rugby at the Tokyo Paralympics. The Steelers went down to Japan 60-52.
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The travel restrictions that killed the chances of Australia’s team winning more medals at the Olympics has cost one of our signature sides a medal in wheelchair rugby at the Tokyo Paralympics.
One of Australia’s most reliable medal winners, the Steelers lost to the host-nation Japan in the bronze medal playoff.
It is the first time since Athens in 2004 that the Aussies – who won back to back gold medals in London and Rio after a silver in Beijing – have not finished on the podium, but no-one should be surprised after what they went through getting to Tokyo
“We knew we were up for some challenges because we haven’t been together as a team for so long and it’s really hurt our preparation,” Steelers captain Ryley Batt said.
“I know everyone’s been affected, I’m not sure how affected, but we’ve been really affected back home in Australia.
“But look, we’ve had a really good run, we won two gold medals and we won a silver …. and you can’t be at the top forever.”
Unable to train together for 18 months because of all the state border lockdowns and overseas travel restrictions, the Steelers’ bid for a first ever three-peat in the roughest sport at the Paralympics ended when they were beaten by the United States in Saturday’s semis.
Then their faint hopes of salvaging the bronze was shattered when they were soundly beaten 60-52 by the world champion Japanese team, leaving head coach Brad Dubberley to rue what might have been.
“It’s hard to take right now. It’s very raw,” he said.
“We’ve obviously had such success for a long period of time and we know that we’re a much better team than the results we had here but we’ve just had to deal with absolute chaos and barrier after barrier after barrier for so long.
“I’m super proud of the team for everything we’ve got over and dealt with but if you said to me a couple of months ago that we were going to finish fourth and win one game I wouldn’t have believed you.”
STEELERS BEATEN IN WHEELCHAIR RUGBY SEMIS
Australia’s long reign as Paralympic wheelchair rugby champions is over.
Gold medallists in 2012 and 2016, the Steelers have fallen short in Tokyo, missing a place in the decider after going down 49-42 to the United States in the semis.
“Today just wasn’t our day,” said Australia’s Chris Bond, who scored seven tries against the Americans, who avenged their 59-58 loss to Australia in the Rio gold medal match.
“It was just uncharacteristic things, balls bouncing off people’s laps, people throwing it out, things that just don’t usually happen. We had a bad day, I think, and at the wrong time.”
The Steelers’ loss was not a huge surprise after they struggled through the pool phase, winning just one of their three matches and advancing on a countback.
The Aussie captain Ryley Batt scored 25 tries but the Americans had their own high scorer in Charles Aoki, who crossed 27 times.
“I wouldn’t say it was revenge, but let’s not kid ourselves when we say it was in the back of our heads,” American Adam Scaturro said.
“It’s something that we’ve been waiting five years for. We’ve played them several times since then, but not on this stage.
“So having this opportunity at this moment was great, and I’m glad that we seized it the way that we did.“
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