Both the men's and women's teams finished in third place at a three-day Bali tournament
The teams that won
In yet another sporting conquest for the nation, the Indian men and women's wheelchair basketball teams have won bronze at the 4th Bali Cup International Tournament for Wheelchair Basketball. The tourney, which took place between July 28 and July 31, marked the women's team being represented for the first time internationally and clinching third place.
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The Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India (WBFI) had conducted a selection camp in Chennai in June this year to identify talent under the guidance of Australian Coach Bradley Ness, after which training camps were held for both teams in Pune. While the women's team was sponsored by the Australian Consulate in Chennai, the men's team was supported by a trust run by contributions from the staff of Standard Chartered Global Business Services Pvt. Ltd.
According to P Madhavi Latha, president of WBFI, although participation in the Bali Cup was good exposure for the players, not all of them could afford the training.
"There was a great improvement in their performance as matches progressed," he said. "Our players learnt good techniques from other teams and they were even able to adopt and apply quickly. The players have immense potential but not all of them can afford the right training and equipment. Continuous practice with high-performance customised sports wheelchairs will definitely improve their skill level and team spirit. We do hope the government and corporates come forward to support wheelchair basketball."
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