GOALBALL NEWS

a female wearing white, black and red competing in goalball

The ranking tournament will feature teams that already qualified for the Paralympic Games.

Finland's Petri Posio and Erkki Miinala block the ball during their gold-medal match at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. After winning Paralympic gold, the Finnish squad will now host the 2014 World Championships.

With a new year and the Rio 2016 Games approaching, here are some of the big goalball questions.

Laurentia Tan

The athletes to look out for at September’s Paralympic Games include five riders and six goalball players.

Blindfolded woman catching the ball during a goalball match

We may now be in 2016, but what did last year tell us about the sport of goalball

Man in wheelchair holds woman in air while spinning wheelchair.

A recap of all major para-sport events that took place in November 2015.

Masae Komiya

Defending Paralympic champions Japan proved they are still the team to beat head of Rio 2016.

Goalball scene with one player throwing the ball

Both the men and women’s teams took the European titles, making it the first time both will appear at a Paralympic Games together.

Erkki Miinala

The men’s goalball team won gold at London 2012 but followed up with double-silvers at the World and European Championships.

Two blindfolded men, one in a suit lying on a field of play, catching a ball

The mayor, Brazilian goalball team and Rio 2016 mascot Tom showcased their athletic abilities at the new venue in Barra Olympic Park.

Yao Yongquan and Cai Changgu at Beijing

The International Federation for the sport is seeking only letter of intent at this time.

Goalball - Asya Miller

The defending world champions expect a battle from Brazil and Canada at the Toronto 2015 Parapan Am Games.

Two boccia player sit in the wheelchairs with their medals around their neck.

Saturday will see 12 of the 15 Parapan sports get underway, with 32 medals up for grabs in four sports.

Romario Diego Marques

Six men’s and six women’s teams will battle it out for gold and a place at Rio 2016.

Man in the water, waving one arm in the air, celebrating

The IPC Swimming World Championships were not the only major event that wrapped up last month.

Blindfolded man on a field of play throwing a ball

Both the men and women’s teams won gold at the IBSA Goalball European Championships A.

Blindfolded women stopping a ball

The women’s team looks to improve upon their bronze from Guadalajara 2011, while the men aim for a podium finish this time.

Finland's Petri Posio and Erkki Miinala block the ball during their gold-medal match at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. After winning Paralympic gold, the Finnish squad will now host the 2014 World Championships.

No. 2 world ranked Lithuania lead the men’s side, while the Israeli women’s team are carrying momentum.

Shasha WANG, China and team mate block the way to the goal

The team secured the IBSA World Games title by beating China 4-1 in the gold-medal match.

Goalball China X Iran - London 2012

Three men's, two women’s teams will qualify for the Paralympics following the competition.

Jose Roberto Ferreira de Oliveira (R) and Romario Diego Marques of Brazil fail to stop a goal during the Men's Group A Goalball match between Finland and Brazil at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Parapan Am Games opportunity for Brazil to see how young players mix with veterans in prep for Paralympic Games.