Italy earned their first-ever medal at the World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Cup after defeating Canada 3–1 (24–26, 25–20, 25–13, 25–18) in the women’s bronze medal match at the Turnstone Center in Fort Wayne. The European side came from a set down with a composed and balanced performance led by Sara Cirelli and Francesca Bosio.

Canada took the opening set 26-24 after a tense exchange that saw both sides trading strong attacks. Heidi Peters led Canada’s offence, while Bosio kept Italy in rhythm with sharp setting and precise attacks. The score was tied at 22-22 when a joust at the net between Katelyn Wright and Bosio gave Canada the edge. Peters followed with an off-the-block hit to reach set point, and Julia Chisholm closed it out with two consecutive attacks through the middle.

Italy responded strongly in the second set, overturning an early Canadian lead through the efforts of Cirelli, Bosio and Anna Ceccon. Eva Ceccatelli added depth on the wing, while Raffaela Battaglia’s serves disrupted Canada’s reception. Canada briefly closed in through Allison Lang’s middle play, but Italy maintained control and sealed the set 25-20 to even the match.

With the score level, Italy took full command in the third set. Cirelli found her rhythm early with powerful swings, and solid defence helped Italy race to a 14-7 lead. Their precision at the net and consistent passing allowed them to dictate play as Canada struggled to regain composure. Cirelli finished the set with a key block for a 25-13 win and a 2-1 advantage.

Italy kept their momentum in the fourth, building a 16-11 lead behind Cirelli’s aggressive hitting and Bosio’s steady distribution. Canada continued to fight but could not sustain pressure against Italy’s organised attack and defence. Eva Ceccatelli brought up match point at 24-18 and followed with an ace to end the contest.

The victory marked a historic milestone for Italy, who secured their first-ever medal at the World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Cup after a determined and well-rounded performance against a resilient Canadian side.

Meanwhile, in the men’s seventh-place classification match, Croatia defeated Japan 3–0 (25–18, 25–16, 25–14) to close their World Cup campaign on a high. Ivan Cosic led all scorers with 17 points, while Edvin Zdionica added 15 to help Croatia secure the win.