Great Britain crowned Women's U25 World Champions in wheelchair basketball
The Women's Great Britain U25 wheelchair basketball team is celebrating today (6 July 2015) after beating Australia 44-35 to take the World title.
At the start of a spectacular summer for wheelchair basketball, Great Britain put on a stunning performance throughout the Women’s U25 World Championships in Beijing, China. The young team secured gold with a 44-35 victory against Australia.
The only nation to emerge from the pool stage undefeated, the GB Women’s U25 Team secured their place in the knockout stages with consecutive wins against Canada (50-30), Australia (49-40), hosts China (70-45), Japan (67-22), and Germany (50-22).
Holding the group’s top spot, Great Britain’s semi final therefore saw the team face the fourth-placed nation Canada once more. In a re-match of the teams' opening game, the GB Women’s U25 Team overcame another performance by Canada to earn their place in the Final against Australia with a 67-51 victory.
The gold medal game proved to be a nail biting affair: an end to end opening 10 minutes seeing both teams really pile the pressure onto their opponents with strong defence. With just three minutes to play in the first quarter, it was Great Britain who had edged ahead by 6-4; however, Australia hit back to level the game on 6 points apiece before the quarter buzzer sounded.
Australia maintained the pressure at the start of the second quarter, working their way to a 15-8 lead with Great Britain’s shots just not dropping. Continuing to fight, it was, however, the GB Women’s U25 Team who earned the final points of the quarter: hitting double figures as they closed down their opponents’ lead – Australia ahead by 15-11 at half time.
Great Britain roared into action after half time, overturning the four point deficit as they quickly played their way to a 17-15 lead. The Australians, however, responded once again: fighting their way back to a 21-18 advantage. Showing great composure, the GB Women’s U25 Team then rallied together once more to regain the lead and move ahead by 26-23 with just one minute remaining in the quarter. Australia then earned the period’s final points to make it a one point game with just 10 minutes left on the clock: Great Britain ahead by 26-25.
In an incredibly tense final quarter, the GB Women’s U25 Team were able to maintain their focus and drive to not only hold onto the lead but to also edge ahead against their tough opponents: taking 34-25 lead in just under four minutes.
Australia continued to battle hard, but Great Britain found another level of play to close out a 44-35 victory and with it the World Title.
