Paralympics: Japan women make milestone debuts in ice hockey, snowboard

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy - As the world marked International Women's Day on Sunday, Japan's team at the Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics has seen spirited performances by trailblazing women in snowboard and ice hockey.

This year's team boasts milestone participation from Eri Sakashita, 33, the first Japanese woman on the para snowboard team since the sport was introduced in 2014, and Akari Fukunishi, 35, the fourth female athlete in history to compete in Para ice hockey, and the first woman to represent Japan in the mixed-gender sport.