A fired-up Japan’s women’s blind football team hit five past host nation England to kick off a scintillating first day of action at the IBSA World Games.
Japan number 10 Kikushima Sora scored a superb first-half hat-trick to help her side to a 4-0 lead before the break at the Bournbrook pitches at the University of Birmingham.
Goals from Wakasug Haruka and Shimatani Hana wrapped up a comfortable 5-0 victory for the world’s number one ranked side, against an England team who were competing at their first major tournament.
Elsewhere in women’s blind football, Morocco and Sweden contested an evenly-fought 1-1 draw in the opening fixture of the IBSA World Games, Argentina defeated Germany 3-0, while India secured a 1-0 win against Austria with Akshara Rana’s second-half strike enough to grab maximum points.
RESULTS IN FULL – Monday 14th August
Women’s blind football
Morocco 1-1 Sweden
England 0-5 Japan
Germany 0-3 Argentina
Austria 0-1 India