This week, the IWBF World Championships will be kicking off in Dubai, with the GB Men’s and GB Women’s squads both taking part. The Motability Scheme is proud to support the teams and we wish them all the best in this exciting competition! Keep reading to learn more.
Wheelchair basketball is a thrilling, fast-paced sport, and the IWBF World Championships is its largest international competition. Originally scheduled for November 2022, the competition is now starting on 9 June 2023 and will run until 20 June when the winners will be crowned.
There are 28 of the best men’s and women’s national teams taking part, and the British teams will be going for gold as they fight for the title. Both GB teams have a great track record at the World Championships, with the Men’s team having won first place in 2018 while the Women’s team snatched an impressive silver medal.
The GB teams will be headed up by coaches Bill Johnson and Joey Johnson for the Men’s squad, and Miguel Vaquero Maestre for the Women’s squad. They will play a vital role in making sure that the athletes are prepared physically and mentally for their matches.
In terms of the players themselves, both teams feature a range of experienced athletes including several recent IWBF Champions Cup winners. One standout is Terry Bywater, who will be playing in his sixth consecutive World Championship and looking to defend his recent win. Other notable selections include recent IWBF Champions Cup and BSR league winners Harry Brown, Ben Fox, Lee Manning, Charlotte Moore and Phil Pratt. The 2018 World Championships MVP Gregg Warburton and Copa del Rey winner James MacSorley will also feature for GB this June.
Following the excitement of the World Championships, both squads will start thinking ahead to the European Championships in August, which will be taking place in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Their action-packed summer will be a joy to watch, and we’re sure that there will be plenty of supporters to cheer the teams on, at home and abroad. If you’re able to tune in, make sure to show your support for the GB teams on social media using the #TogetherWeAreGB hashtag.
If you want to learn more about how wheelchair basketball works and read some of the athlete’s stories, take a look at our recent article announcing our partnership with British Wheelchair Basketball. It also includes some handy information on how you can get involved with a local club, through their new Inspire a Generation grassroots programme.
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