On the ITF Wheelchair circuit, Canada’s Mitch McIntyre has been a constant winner. It has taken the veteran little or no time to seek out himself within the winner’s circle in 2024.
On the yr’s first main, one other Canadian reached a brand new milestone of his personal.
Let’s meet up with the newest information from Canada’s wheelchair athletes.
McIntyre Brings House the {Hardware}
The primary wheelchair title of the yr for a Canadian got here in Arizona, the place Mitch McIntyre received the quad doubles crown alongside American Andrew Bogdanov.
McIntyre’s seventh profession ITF doubles title prolonged his title-winning streak to a few consecutive years.
If not for the climate, the 38-year-old may have doubled up as he and Bogdanov had been scheduled to fulfill within the quad singles ultimate as nicely, however rain cancelled the ultimate.
At that very same occasion in Arizona, Thomas Venos, Barry Henderson, and Natalia Lanucha all reached the singles quarter-finals of their respective attracts.
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Lanucha and Anne-Marine Dolinar reached the semifinals of the ladies’s doubles, shedding to the eventual champions Abbie Breakwell and Maylee Phelps. Venos reached the boys’s doubles semis with Japanese companion Shogo Takano, the place additionally they misplaced to the eventual champions Adam Berdichevsky and Sergei Lysov.
Venos additionally reached the quarter-finals of an occasion in Indian Wells in January, whereas McIntyre reached the doubles semis with Frenchman Jerome De Meyere.
Australian Breakthrough for Shaw
Rob Shaw was Canada’s lone consultant within the wheelchair competitors on the first Grand Slam occasion of the yr, the Australian Open.
Previously, Shaw’s finest runs on the majors have come within the doubles, however he had a results of be aware within the singles. For the primary time in six makes an attempt, the Canadian received a singles match at a significant, defeating Australia’s Finn Broadbent in straight units.
It was a very dominant approach to get the breakthrough, as Shaw dropped only one sport within the 6-1, 6-0 victory. Nonetheless, he misplaced within the quarter-finals to Israel’s Man Sasson.
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Alongside companion Heath Davidson, Shaw reached the semifinals of the doubles the place they misplaced to the eventual champions Andy Lapthorne and David Wagner.
Street to the Paralympics
Within the background of all of the common motion on the wheelchair circuit is the 2024 Paralympic Summer season Video games in Paris, happening on the finish of August.
Qualification for the Paralympics is based on rating. The highest 32 males, 20 ladies, and 12 quad athletes within the ITF rankings acquire direct entry into the Paralympics.
As of Feb. 14, Rob Shaw is the lone Canadian who’s in place to qualify straight for Paris. Shaw is at present ranked No. 9 within the quad rankings and is about 450 factors contained in the High 12.
Mitch McIntyre is a methods again within the quad rankings at No. 31.
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Natalia Lanucha is the highest Canadian girl however is at present ranked No. 42, 22 spots outdoors of the Paralympic qualifying vary. Anne-Marie Dolinar is 10 spots behind Lanucha at No. 52.
On the boys’s facet, the main Canadian is Thomas Venos however he has some work to do, at present ranked No. 59 and needing to climb 27 spots to get right into a Paralympic place. Nonetheless, regardless of the quantity of locations he must climb, Venos is barely 141 factors again of the Thirty second-ranked participant at present.
Some spots can be found on the Paralympics for winners of some regional competitions and by way of direct choice by the Worldwide Paralympic Committee and ITF.
