U.S. Paralympics News Photo Gallery: 2019 ...

Photo Gallery: 2019 IBSA Goalball & Judo International Qualifier

By Melissa Zhang | July 17, 2019, 10:44 a.m. (ET)

The 2019 IBSA Goalball & Judo International Qualifier was hosted by Fort Wayne, Indiana, from June 28 - July 10. More than 500 athletes from 48 countries competed in the tournament, seeking qualification slots for the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. Highlights from the competition included the U.S. women's goalball team punching its ticket to Tokyo 2020 following a semifinal win over Israel, and the U.S. judo team earning a team silver medal on home soil. Take a look below for photos from the action during the multi-sport event, hosted in the United States for the first time:

Two American goalball athletes laughing during the International Qualfiier in Fort Wayne, Indiana
U.S. goalball athlete and Rio silver medalist Andrew Jenks (Wilmington, Delaware) laughs with a teammate. The men finished fifth overall at the 2019 IBSA International Qualifier after earning two wins on the final day of competition against South Korea and Ukraine.

Judo athletes bowing to one another before competition.
Judo athletes bow to one another prior to competition beginning. The tournament gave athletes world championship-level qualifying points towards Tokyo 2020.

The coaching staff of the U.S. women's goalball team cheers after the U.S. earns a point.
The coaching staff for the U.S. women's goalball team cheers after winning a point. The women fell to China in the championship match 3-5, earning a silver medal at the tournament and punching their ticket to Tokyo 2020.

Judo athletes hug one another after competition.
Judo athletes hug after a competition.

Two-time judo Paralympian Christella Garcia holds up a sign in support of the U.S. men's goalball team while sitting in the stands.
Two-time Paralympic judo athlete Christella Garcia cheers on the U.S. men's goalball team.

Judo athletes in competition at the 2019 IBSA International Qualifier
Judo athletes in competition. Cindy Simon (Wayne, New Jersey), Robert Tanaka (Denver, Colorado), Ben Goodrich (Saint Paul, Minnesota), Robert Anderson (Park Forest, Illinois), Marissa Arndt (Hartland, Wisconsin) and Maria Liana Mutia (Manila, Philippines) earned fifth-place finishes for the United States.

A U.S. women's goalball athletes blocks a shot.
Paralympian Amanda Dennis (Peachtree City, Georgia) blocks a ball during competition. Dennis earned a bronze medal with the U.S. women's goalball team at the Paralympic Games Rio 2016.

The U.S. judo team stands on the podium with their medals.
Members of Team USA, including Sarah Chung (Crystal Lake, Illinois), Ron Hawthorne (Colorado Springs, Colorado), Goodrich, Simon and Tanaka, stand on the podium with their silver team medals. “I think everybody feels good that we were able to get a medal as a team, show that we have some good judo, some good techniques, some strong competitors that are out there to fight,” Goodrich said.

The U.S. men's goalball team gathers for a team huddle. The Lithuanian men and Chinese women earned gold medals in goalball in Fort Wayne, qualifying for Tokyo 2020.

Fans cheer on the U.S. women's goalball team during a match. The events took place in the Turnstone Center, Indiana Tech and the Grand Wayne Center. The tournament was the largest international event to be held in Fort Wayne.

The U.S. women's team celebrates after a game.
Members of the U.S. women's goalball team celebrate after defeating Great Britain 9-1 in the quarterfinal match. They earned a win against Israel in the semifinal to play in the championship match against China.