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By Vernon Matters Staff

Former Kal Laker helps Canada secure Olympic berth

Feb 11, 2020 | 11:06 AM

Canada’s women’s basketball team that will be off to the 2020 Toyko Olympics will have a former Greater Vernon resident on their squad.

Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe is a former star with the Kalamalka Lakers (Coldstream) basketball team which won a provincial championship in 2009, before she went on to a college career at Simon Fraser University.

Raincock-Ekunwe, 28, is currently a forward with the New York Liberty of the WNBA.

Her current hometown is listed as Penticton.

Canada defeated Sweden 80-50 on Saturday in an Olympic qualifying tournament in Ostend, Belgium to secure their spot in Toyko.

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Combined with an earlier 61-56 win over host Belgium, the Canadians — who are currently ranked No. 4 in the world — the result clinched a third consecutive berth in the Summer Games.

Canada has now qualified eight teams for the Tokyo Olympics: women’s basketball, soccer, rugby sevens, water polo and softball, along with men’s rugby sevens, volleyball and field hockey.

by Vernon Matters Staff
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