Canadian beach volleyball duo to play for Pan Am Games gold

SANTIAGO, Chile –
The Canadian beach volleyball duo of Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson have advanced to the women’s gold-medal match at the Pan American Games.
Canada’s flagbearers at the opening ceremonies in Santiago, Chile, swept Argentina’s Ana Maria Gallay and Gabriela Fernanda Pereyra 2-0 (21-15, 21-15) in the semifinal.
The Toronto athletes awaited the outcome of a later semifinal between Brazil and the U.S. to know their opponent for the championship game.
In the ring, Tammara Thibeault earned a berth at next year’s Paris Olympics with a win over Citlalli Vanessa Ortiz of Mexico by unanimous decision in Thursday’s semifinal.
The top two boxers in each weight class qualified for the 2024 Games.
The 26-year-old from Shawinigan, Que., meets Panama’s Atheyna Bylon for Pan Am Games middleweight gold Friday in a rematch of their 2022 world championship final.