The wheelchair basketball event guarantees to be an thrilling spectacle on the Paris 2024 Paralympic Video games, with world-class gamers assured to go away followers on the sting of their seats.
The boys’s and ladies’s competitions will happen between August 29 and September 8 on the Bercy Area within the French capital. Eight groups might be divided into two teams of 4.
Group video games will run till September 2, with the quarter-finals operating a day later, culminating within the showpiece gold medal bout on September 8.
Let’s look nearer on the males’s teams and the groups concerned.
Group A: Canada, Nice Britain, Germany, France
A powerful group that includes three of the 4 extra qualifiers from the IWBF Males’s Repechage held in April: Canada, France and Germany. Nice Britain secured their spot by profitable the IWBF European Championships final August.
Canada heads to Paris with a balanced squad determined to reignite the successes of 2012, after they received their sixth Paralympic gold in London. Nevertheless, they’ve did not make the rostrum since then. They beat Italy on the IWBF Males’s Repechage in April this yr, to indicate the world that they nonetheless belong on the primary stage. Will the expertise, blended with youth, come good in Paris?
So much is predicted of the host nation France, who needed to undergo the Repechage in Antibes to qualify, beating Morocco to stamp their ticket. They boast a wealth of scoring choices, together with stable playmakers. With the house crowd behind them, can they land their first medal since claiming bronze at Barcelona in 1992? They are going to be checked out as darkish horses this yr.
Germany had been left pissed off at ending fourth on the IWBF European Championships final summer season, however made amends by qualifying for the Paralympics by beating Iran on the IWBF Males’s Repechage. The event noticed a brand new period with Michael Engel taking the helm. Now that he has handed step one in getting his nation to the Paralympics, we’ll see how far he can take them in Paris.
Nice Britain has loved a lot continental success, profitable eight gold medals and 18 in whole, greater than every other nation. Nevertheless, GB’s success on the Paralympic stage reads in another way as they seek for their first-ever gold medal. Their final style of victory got here on the IWBF European Championships after they beat Spain within the closing in Rotterdam. With six Paralympic medals for this illustrious wheelchair basketball nation, can the seventh one be tremendous gold?
Standout gamers
Canada might be trying to arguably wheelchair basketball’s most recognisable talisman Patrick Anderson to steer them on the offensive finish. Anderson introduced himself to the world stage at Sydney 2000, amongst the Canadians to gold and 24 years later, he’s nonetheless able to producing magic on the ground. He can rating from anyplace on the ground and can also be a extensively rated playmaker.
Nico Dreimuller in motion in opposition to Canada on the 2022 World Championships.
Germany has quite a few gamers who can rating factors and a stable backcourt that may create, shoot, and defend stoically. Nico Dreimuller and Thomas Bohme will definitely be the keys to success for the Germans in Paris. They’re well-rounded gamers with big-game expertise and loads of data behind them. These two will feed the ahead line and get factors freely.
France, like Germany, has numerous standouts and expertise in each class. Nevertheless, the free-scoring Nicolas Jouanserre may have that thrilling presence that can ignite the hometown crowd. Jouanserre can dazzle by capturing from lengthy vary, hit groups the place it hurts inside, and is a stable free throw shooter. He’s the entire offensive package deal.
Gregg Warburton in motion on the 2022 World Championships
Nice Britain has the right steadiness of expertise and youth because it appears to higher the 4 bronze medals it has received within the final 5 Paralympics. Gregg Warburton and Phillip Pratt might be key parts to their success. Warburton is normally within the main scorer stats for GB, and it’s straightforward to see why; he likes to get to his spot on the ground from midrange and use the backboard for his factors. When he does that, it’s virtually computerized. Pratt is the primary playmaker. When he will get into his rhythm, he can rating at an extremely excessive share. On his day, the Welsh wizard is unstoppable.
Group B: USA, Spain, Netherlands, Australia
It’ll take a whole lot of work to look previous the reigning Paralympic champions, the USA, however Spain, Netherlands and Australia might be extremely powerful opposition in an thrilling group.
This pool additionally provides us an early rematch of the gold medal sport on the Rio 2016 Paralympics when the USA beat Spain.
The United States, now searching for a 3rd straight gold medal, heads into Paris filled with confidence. They claimed their spot by profitable the Santiago 2023 Para-Pan American Video games final November.
They’re undoubtedly wheelchair basketball’s most profitable Paralympic nation, having received a complete of 14 medals, together with 9 gold.
Spain superior by means of the IWBF European Championships by ending as runners-up and possesses the expertise and gamers able to constructing on their 2016 silver medal. Success will rely on their capacity to unite as a workforce and keep constant efficiency all through the competitors.
Netherlands settled for third on the IWBF European Championships in entrance of their house crowd in Rotterdam. They breezed to eventual qualification on the IWBF Males’s Repechage in April by beating Columbia within the crossover.
Australia, a workforce with 4 Paralympic medals to its title, is set to return to the rostrum for the primary time since securing silver on the London 2012 Video games. After a disappointing displaying on the 2022 World Championships, the Aussies made a robust comeback by profitable the IWBF Asia Oceania Championships, defeating Iran in an exciting closing to safe their place in Paris.
Standout gamers
The USA has stars in abundance, however none extra so than Steve Serio, who will lead the workforce in Paris and the whole nation as one of many flag-bearers. However alongside an honest scorer in Serio is Jake Williams, extensively thought-about top-of-the-line shooters within the sport. Williams might be searching for his hat-trick of Paralympic golds, and with a participant who can go lights out from anyplace on the courtroom, he might be decided to just do that.
Ignacio Ortega taking part in for Spain within the 2023 European Championships
Spain’s run to the silver was with the squad, who performed as a collective and a never-say-die perspective. Search for teenager Ignacio Ortega to make a reputation for himself for the Spanish on the Paralympic stage. He led the workforce in scoring and assists on the IWBF European Championships and may damage you in some ways.
The Netherlands‘ offensive sport flows by means of Mendel Op den Orth, who can discover the smallest of cracks within the protection and rating. Alongside Op den Orth is Mattijs Bellers, a stable inside presence who generally is a handful beneath the basket.
Invoice Latham in motion on the 2022 World Championships.
Australia has been a drive within the sport for years however is raring to return to the Paralympic podium in Paris. Madrid-based Aussie Invoice Latham might be one participant who will look to get them again to the place they really feel they belong. One of many constant scorers in wheelchair basketball, Latham has been across the circuit since 2009. He’s a participant who can discover some ways to punish you, and his scoring contact might be essential for his nation.
To remain up to date on the wheelchair basketball competitors on the Paris 2024 Paralympic Video games, go to the occasion web page or observe us on social media #Paris2024WBB for the newest information and highlights.
Written by John Hobbs for IWBF / Images IWBF/Steffie Wunderl Fotografie
