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The progress of the Australian Gliders wheelchair basketball program will be tested in Japan this week, as coach Craig Campbell pieces together the squad that will carry the nation’s hopes into a crucial year of championships and Paralympic qualifiers.
The Osaka Cup is known also as the International Friendship Tournament and provides players a unique opportunity to interact with each other while attending cultural events, running clinics for locals and visiting schools.
However, with the rescheduled World Championships to be played in the UAE in June, followed by Paris 2024 Paralympic qualifiers and the U25 World Championships, Campbell wants to fully utilise the chance to play Tokyo 2020 champions the Netherlands, as well as Canada and the host nation at Cup between February 7 and 13.
Alongside several Gliders Paralympic representatives in the 12-player squad, Campbell has included a trio of South Australians – Katelin Gunn, Annabelle Dennis and Lucinda Bueti (pictured L-R) – reflecting the development of the SA state program.
“We have a big year ahead and we have some young athletes who haven’t travelled internationally, so this is a good chance for us to give them some experience,” Campbell said.
“There are a couple of athletes in the mix who are starting Year 12, so they’re staying in Australia for this tournament. But it’s great to see three South Australian athletes there and be able to include them on a Gliders tour.
“There are a lot of good people involved in the sport in SA and the athletes have really bought in. There’s a more structured program, the players are getting more opportunities to play and train regularly. They’re enthusiastic and they want to be coached because they’re in an environment where they can enjoy their wheelchair basketball, which is what it’s all about.”
Among the more familiar faces in the squad are Georgia Munro-Cook, Amber Merritt, Isabel Martin, Sarah Vinci, Jess Cronje and Taishar Ovens.
“Having the Paralympic champions there and the Americas champions [Canada], you couldn’t ask for two better teams to benchmark against,” Campbell said.
“We’re changing the culture a little bit to give the girls a bigger voice and make sure there’s a bit more co-design in what we’re doing. We want to get their strengths out there. I think we’re tracking in a good direction.”
By: David Sygall, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 6 February 2023
