Rollers & Gliders World Challenge perfect prep for Paralympics
Rollers star Bill Latham says the Rollers and Gliders World Challenge next week will be the perfect preparation for London.
Australia’s reigning Paralympic and World Champion wheelchair Basketball Team, the Rollers, will get the ideal preparation for the London Paralympic Games when they take on Great Britain and Japan in Sydney next week, says Rollers star Bill Latham.
The 2012 Rollers and Gliders World Challenge runs from 18-21 July at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, with the Rollers taking on Great Britain and Japan, and their female counterparts the Gliders facing off against Japan, Germany and China.
In an exclusive interview with the Basketball Australia website Latham said the tournament was going to be invaluable to the Rollers as they prepare to defend their gold medal.
“Playing against Japan and Great Britain, they’re great teams in the world,” Latham said. “Against those two teams it’s always a really good competition. They’re both strong internationally. So it will be a good test to see where we’re at and we can put into place different game plans and different things that we want to get done in the Paralympics. So we can prepare, we can play together, (have) more minutes as a team and get our combinations working properly.”
Latham said both Japan and Great Britain were particularly strong through their mid-point classification players and would test the reigning Paralympic champions.
“Both teams have great players. Japan is great through their mids, so they’ll be a good team up the floor,” he said. “Great Britain has got some great high pointers and mids as well so it will be very tough.”
Latham, whose great grandfather Tedda Courtney played rugby league for Australia, said the Rollers and Gliders World Challenge was the final preparation before the Australian team heads to London.
“These games will be a good test for us to show us where we’re at,” Latham said. “Once we come out of the Rollers and Gliders World Challenge it’s just about everyone going back to their home city, getting their training done, getting ready, and everyone preparing and being ready for the Paralympics. Ready to hit the floor, ready to go, one of the strongest teams in the world.”
Tickets for the Rollers and Gliders World Challenge are now on sale through TicketDirect.
Read the full Bill Latham Q&A on basketball.net.au by clicking here.
World Challenge Fixture
Wednesday July 18
10:00am – Australian Gliders v Japan
12:00pm – Great Britain v Japan (Men)
5:30pm – Germany v China (Women)
7:30pm – Australian Rollers v Great Britain
Thursday July 19
10:00am – Australian Rollers v Japan
12:00pm – China v Japan (Women)
5:30pm – Australian Gliders v Germany
7:30pm – Australian Rollers v Great Britain
Friday July 20
10:00am – Australian Gliders v China
12:00pm – Great Britain v Japan (Men)
5:30pm – Japan v Germany (Women)
7:30pm – Australian Rollers v Japan
Saturday July 21
12:30pm – 3rd v 4th (Women)
2:30pm – Women’s Final
4:30pm – Men’s Final
Tickets will be available at the door.
