The Montreal 2026 World Boccia Cup is officially under way, but it has proven to be a challenging start for Bermuda’s 2025 Female Athlete of the Year, Yushae DeSilva-Andrade.
Opening her campaign in BC1 Female Pool A, DeSilva-Andrade entered the arena as a pre-tournament favourite. Currently ranked 7th in the world in her division, the Bermudian standout faced off against Simona Blazkova of the Czech Republic, who occupies the 17th spot in the global rankings.
Despite her higher seeding, DeSilva-Andrade struggled to find her usual clinical rhythm in the opening exchange. Blazkova delivered a disciplined performance, consistently placing pressure on the Bermudian and ultimately securing a decisive 6-2 victory.
The defeat leaves DeSilva-Andrade with work to do in a competitive Pool A, which also features Japan’s Hiromi Endo and Israel’s Orit Kelner.
DeSilva-Andrade posted on social media, “Unfortunately I lost my first match today 6-2 against Czech Republic. It wasn’t the result I wanted but hey, you win some you lose some that’s the nature of the game. I’m still in it tho, I play my second game tomorrow against Israel.”
For the Bermudian star, the focus now shifts immediately to her remaining pool fixtures as she looks to recover her form and secure a pathway into the knockout stages. With a season defined by her rise into the world's elite top ten, all eyes will be on how she responds to this early setback in Quebec.
|
