Japan and China to lead Asia's blind football charge at Paris 2024. GETTY IMAGES

Japan and China will lead Asia's charge in blind football at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, which will be held in the French capital from 28 August to 8 September.

From 1 to 7 September, the teams from Japan and China will compete for medals at the Eiffel Tower Stadium in what promises to be an exciting blind football tournament at Paris 2024.

Blind football is a dynamic sport that offers visually impaired athletes a unique opportunity to compete at the highest level. It is played with a sound-emitting ball and involves two teams of five players. Players receive verbal instructions from their goalkeeper, coach and guides to help them navigate the game.

The International Association of Blind Soccer Associations (IBSA) has established two categories within this discipline: blind soccer for athletes in class B1, and soccer for athletes with impaired vision, classified as B2 and B3. Teams in both categories compete separately, but all outfield players must wear eye protectors to ensure fair competition.

Blind Football, one of the main sports at the Paralympics starting on 28 August in Paris. GETTY IMAGES
Blind Football, one of the main sports at the Paralympics starting on 28 August in Paris. GETTY IMAGES

Matches are played in two halves of 15 minutes each, with a ten-minute break in between. In the event of a draw, the teams will go to penalties to decide the winner. During the matches, the spectators must remain silent so that the players can hear the sound of the ball, the "voy" and the instructions of the coaches. Cheering and clapping are only allowed when a goal is scored.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will see the debut of Asian teams.Japan, one of the world's favourites, will take on Colombia in Group B. Meanwhile, the People's Republic of China will take on France in Group A.

Ryo Kawamura is one of the standout players for Paris 2024. Although he only started playing blind football in 2007, just six years after the sport arrived in Japan, Kawamura made his debut for the national team in 2017 and has been a key player ever since.

Japan is one of the contenders at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. GETTY IMAGES
Japan is one of the contenders at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. GETTY IMAGES

For Kawamura, as for all participants, the sound of the ball is crucial to the game. His ability to make quick decisions and stay alert is vital to his performance. His aim is to score goals and lead his team to victory.

Meanwhile, Zhu Ruiming from the People's Republic of China will be looking for redemption after his team narrowly missed out on bronze at Tokyo 2020. Zhu and his team will have another chance to reach the podium in Paris.