Yushae De-Silva Andrade just missed out on becoming Bermuda’s first-ever Paralympics medal-winner after finishing fourth in the boccia competition in Paris.

DeSilva-Andrade lost 7-0 to Japan’s Hirumi Endo in the bronze-medal match to finish in possibly the most heartbreaking position in world sport.

The Bermudian, who earlier in the day lost in a tie-break in the semi-final against France’s Aurelie Aubert, gave it her best but was up against it from the start against her Japanese opponent, who won the opening end 4-0.

From there, DeSilva-Andrade faced an uphill struggle and she battled bravely in the final three ends but ultimately came up short, although her fourth-place position is the best effort from a Bermudian at the Paralympics.

There was disappointment in the voice of DeSilva-Andrade as she reflected on her Paris experience a couple of hours after losing the bronze-medal match.

“I’m feeling OK and I’m pleased with my performance,” DeSilva-Andrade said.

“The semi-final was really, really close and it could have been anyone’s game but she just had one good ball than me and it won her the game, but overall I just feel really good. It has been an awesome experience.

“In the final I just couldn’t execute the way I wanted. I started out well and it just went haywire from there but finishing fourth at the Paralympics is a really big accomplishment for me especially because at my first Paralympics [Rio 2016] I didn’t get anywhere near this far. I just feel proud all the way around.”

DeSilva-Andrade has every intention of continuing on to the Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028.

“I’m just planning on keeping on going to competitions, qualifying for as many as I can and hopefully getting to LA in 2028,” she said.

“I’m going to keep on growing and see what happens.”

Bermuda’s boccia star has formed a close bond with coach Larry Hunt in the build up to these Games and she is keen to pay tribute to his work.

“I really would like to thank Larry Hunt,” DeSilva-Andrade said.

“The past year and a half he has really stuck with me and been through everything with me so I need to say a big thank-you to him and also my mom. She’s been there for everything. She takes me to training and sacrifices everything for me. She’s extremely proud of me and was a bit nervous like me, but we got through it together.”

More to follow . . .