Gliders Turn To Experience For Final Tilt At Qualification

Paralympic Games medallists Bridie Kean and Kylie Gauci have been brought into the Australian Gliders squad for the upcoming do-or-die IWBF Repechage Tournament in Japan, the national women’s team’s last chance to qualify for Paris 2024.  

The tournament will feature eight teams, with the top four earning a place at the Paralympics in August. Australia is grouped with Germany, Thailand and Algeria. The other group is Spain, France, Canada and Japan.  

Also included in the Gliders squad is emerging star Laura Davoli, alongside the experienced Shelley Matheson, who returned to the team late last year.  

Head coach Craig Campbell said the injection of experience would provide stability in the high-stakes competition. 

“Bridie captained the Gliders when they last won a medal in London, and Shelley and Kylie are both three-time Paralympic medallists, so between the three of them, there is around 1000 games of international experience,” Campbell said. 

“There’s a level of respect for those athletes that have gone out and won international medals and have retuned back to the program. We are reaching a point where there is now competition for the spots in the different classes, which for us as coaches means that we are having to make tough decisions about what’s the greater of two greats.” 

Tokyo Paralympian Isabel Martin is one player likely to benefit from the trio’s qualities.  

“Shelley is a close friend and someone I really looked up to as a player, so it’s super exciting to be sharing the court with her,” Martin said.  

“Bridie and Kylie both add so much knowledge, speed and aggression to our dynamic and it will be valuable to have their leadership on the court.” 

The crossover stage will unveil the four teams that will secure a spot to the Paralympics. Campbell explained the dynamics of the Australians’ pool. 

“Thailand is continuing to improve,” he said. “They got some wins against us in Osaka with our development group back in February, and they’ve also got an Aussie as part of their coaching staff, so they will be more competitive than people have given them credit for in the past. 

“Germany is the other standout team in our group, but it’s the crossovers that we really need to make sure we are prepared for. Every game for this tournament is going to be a tough game because of what’s at stake.” 

2024 IWBF Women’s Repechage 

April 17 – 20, Osaka, Japan 

Group A 

Germany, Thailand, Algeria, Australia 

Group B  

Spain, France, Canada, Japan 

Full Schedule 

By: Basketball Australia and David Sygall

Published: 5 April 2024