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As Australia prepares for the 2032 Brisbane Paralympics, women's blind football is making significant strides. Ingrid McKenna, a 23-year-old athlete, is at the forefront of this movement. McKenna transitioned to blind sports at the age of 16 and 17, finding her passion for blind football at a national expression of interest camp in Melbourne in 2022. Since then, she has been an integral part of the national program.

McKenna emphasizes the importance of having a supportive and accessible environment for visually impaired athletes. She is part of a women’s-only program, which she finds highly beneficial. `To be part of a women’s-only program is great, and we all get along so well on and off the field. We understand each other in terms of our visual impairments and can support each other,` she said.

This December, McKenna and her teammates will embark on their first international trip to Japan, where they will face an experienced team. This trip is seen as a crucial learning experience for the team, which is still in its developmental stages. `We’re going over to Japan for two weeks. It’s our first international trip as a team, and I’m really excited to be part of it. We’ll learn a lot from Japan because their program has been up and running for a while,` McKenna explained.

The Victorian blind football training camps, held at the Hangar in Tullamarine, provide a state-of-the-art facility for Ingrid and her teammates to develop their skills. The team's progress is a testament to the growing opportunities for women in blind sports, with pathways available for both social competitions and international ambitions.

Results:
- First international trip to Japan in December 2024

Top Players:
- Ingrid McKenna

#BlindFootball,#Paralympics,#WomenInSports