Monday, November 20th, 2023.- As expected, Canada, ranked fifth in the world and aiming for gold and tickets to Paris 2024, easily overcame Chile on the third day of the mixed wheelchair rugby preliminary phase at Santiago 2023. 

At the Centro de Deportes Colectivos at the Estadio Nacional, the North Americans won 60-27, marking their third consecutive victory, while the hosts are still seeking their first win. 

Canada took the lead 4-0 just 37 seconds into the first half, setting the tone for the entire match. They left Chile without an outlet, forcing them to lose possession due to the possession rule (40 seconds) and the ten-second rule, both due to the inability to play against the opponent's strong defense. 

The scores for each period were 20-8, 14-4, 13-6, and 13-9, resulting in a final score of 60-27. 

Canadian player Matthew Debly, with 17 points, was the top scorer of the match. He commented, "Chile was a worthy opponent. We came here to try to secure a direct spot for Paris, and we know that the United States is the team to beat." Once again, Christian Madariga was the top scorer for Chile, with 13 tries. 

Wheelchair rugby was created by Canadian Duncan Campbell, known as "the father of the quad," who developed the basic rules and regulations of the game, ensuring that the sport provided an opportunity for players with disabilities in their arms and hands to participate on equal terms. 



Written by Esteban Gómez y Alejandro Pérez; translated by Pía Barriga Ferry / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport 
Ph: Jonnathan Oyarzún / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport