CWG 2026: Australia beat Canada in overtime in 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball classic
Glasgow, July 28 (IANS/GURPUNEET SIDHU) Australia’s Georgia Munro-Cook scored the winning points to seal an epic Women’s 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball win over Canada, serving up a stunning finish to a Commonwealth Games classic with an overtime victory over the defending champions at Glasgow 2026.
In a tit-for-tat encounter, Canada hit back from 10-7 down to draw level with a last-gasp basket from Elodie Tessier just before the buzzer.
But Munro-Cook, who had scored six of Australia’s 10 points in regular time, nailed both the extra points required to seal a 12-10 overtime win.
“That was one of the most exciting games I’ve ever played in,” the 32-year-old was quoted as saying on the official website. “They just kept coming back and coming back, but we kept extending our lead, which was incredible.
“Canada’s one of the best teams here, and we really showed what we could do today. We will take so much confidence from that. I think we can compete with anyone here and we really showed that.”
The clash between the silver and gold medallists from Birmingham 2022 decided who finished runners-up in Pool A, after England, who had beaten both sides in the first two pool rounds, earned a third straight win by getting the better of South Africa.
Crowd favourites
A similar scenario played out in the Men’s 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball, where defending champions Australia beat 2022 silver medallists Canada 20-12 in another high-octane encounter to seal the runners-up spot in Pool A behind England, who beat Kenya 21-0 to seal top spot and a direct passage into the semifinals.
“There were some people out there who weren’t even Aussies cheering us on,” Australia’s Eithen Leard said. “Everyone just loves getting around the Aussies – ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie’. It’s awesome to have our family and friends here.
“I said to one of the boys at breakfast that it’s only three more days and then it’s over, so I was pretty upset about that. But we’re going to make the most of the next three days and see how far we can go.”
Four straight wins
Defending Men’s 3×3 Basketball champions England were made to sweat by previously unbeaten Malaysia before reeling off a fourth straight win, 21-19, in Pool B.
New Zealand also secured a fourth successive victory in the Women’s competition, beating hosts Scotland 21-12.
“We needed that,” New Zealand’s Ella Fotu said. “They’re a good team, it was a good crowd, and we’ve got to keep on our toes and get better every game. We’re going for number one. Why are we here if not to be number one?” he added.
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