A ROYAL National College for the Blind (RNC) goalball star was part of an Great Britain team that reached the quarter-finals of a qualifying event for next year's Paralympic Games in Rio de Janiero.

Laura Perry joined team mates Andrea Logan (Glasgow), Anna Tipton (Cambridge), Georgie Bullen (Leicester) and Sarah Leiter (Cambridge) for the 2015 IBSA World Games in Seoul, South Korea.

An impressive 5-1 victory to Australia was followed by a further four wins in the groups stages along with two draws including one against London 2012 gold medallists Japan.

That ensured their place in the quarter-finals where they were beaten by eventual winners Israel.

Finishing in fifth place, the team must now wait for the results of the last regional competitions of the season.

If these tournaments are won by teams already qualified for Rio, such as Israel and China, spots will be freed up.

Thanks to their performance in Korea, Team GB are officially in line for one of these tickets to Rio.

“Just to reach our fundraising target and board that plane to Seoul was huge achievement so to beat some of the best teams in the world to fifth place is incredible," said Perry.

"We fought hard this tournament and have come home knowing we have done everything possible to get to Rio.

"It’s going to be a nail-biting wait but for now we’re going to enjoy our success.”

Mike Reilly, CEO of Goalball UK added, “We have beaten teams positioned high in the world rankings and given ourselves a fighting chance of Rio.

"This is an outstanding result not least because we achieved this on the back of individual fundraising initiatives.

"A truly great effort from the squad and Head Coach Aaron Ford.”