The Australian men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams will need their A-game from day one at the London 2012 Paralympics, after landing some tough opponents in the tournament draw at Stoke Mandeville on the weekend.

At the birthplace of the Paralympics, the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) conducted the draw that will see the Rollers (men) pitted against the USA while the Gliders (women) will face the likes of Canada in the pool games.

Of the 12 men’s teams, the Rollers will face the USA, Italy, Spain, Turkey and South Africa in pool A while the Gliders will face host nation Great Britain as well as the Netherlands, Canada and Brazil in the women’s 10 team draw.

Of the five teams in pool A that the Rollers will face in London, the USA is the only one they played at the 2008 Paralympics, defeating them 68-61 in the pool stages. Italy, Spain and Turkey did not contest the 2008 Paralympics, while Australia did not face South Africa during the Paralympic tournament.

The Rollers will not face Canada, whom they defeated to win the coveted Paralympic gold medal until after the pool stage of competition.

Meanwhile, the Gliders, who are currently ranked fourth in the world and won a bronze medal in Beijing, will face their Canadian rivals in the early stages of their Paralympic campaign.

The Canadians, who are ranked third in the world just above Australia, pushed Australia’s hopes of a top three finish off the medal podium when they won the bronze medal game 59-49 at the 2010 World Championships.

Men’s wheelchair basketball draw

Pool A
Australia
USA
Italy
Spain
Turkey
South Africa

Pool B
Great Britain
Japan
Poland
Columbia
Germany
Canada

Women’s wheelchair basketball draw

Pool A
Australia
Great Britain
The Netherlands
Canada
Brazil

Pool B
USA
Germany
China
France
Mexico/South Africa pending playoff

By APC Media
Posted 23/01/2012