GB announce experienced squad for 2019 Women’s U25 World Championship

As current reigning U25 World Champions, Great Britain have announced the twelve athletes who will head to Thailand to defend their title at the 2019 Women’s U25 World Championship.

The GB team, who are serious contenders for the 2019 U25 World Championship crown, with the squad’s notable international success including back-to-back U24 European Championship titles (2016 & 2018) and the 2015 U25 World Championship title.

The roster boasts some well know names of the sport including Rio 2016 Paralympian, Joy Haizelden leading the squad as Captain and London 2012 Paralympian Maddie Thompson as Vice-Captain. Other GB Senior Programme athletes include Kayla Bell, Siobhan Fitzpatrick and Charlotte Moore. Each bring a wealth of international competition experience to the squad, including their historic silver medal at the 2018 World Championships.

Making their debut international GB appearances at the U25 World’s are Bethany Wheeler and Brooke Mottram. The squad is completed with sisters Jade and Adele Atkin, Niamh Horan, Lucy Robinson and Freya Levy, each of whom have represented GB during their successful campaigns at either the 2016 or 2018 European Championships.

Reflecting on the road ahead, GB Women’s Junior Head Coach Dan Price commented:

“Undoubtedly we have an excellent roster and as a squad we are in a really good place for the U25 World Championships. However, we are not complacent about the quality of competition that awaits – we are aware that as current Champions teams will be looking for early wins against GB and that we will need to bring our A game from the moment we hit the courts in Thailand.

“We are prepared and ready to defend our hard earned title.”

Echoing the words of the Head Coach, British Wheelchair Basketball Performance Director, Jayne Ellis added:

“We are extremely proud of all the players that took part in the selection process and huge congratulations to our World Championship team, their commitment and dedication to their ongoing development as players has been world class. We are indebted to those hard working families, coaches and clubs volunteers that give their evenings and weekends to support these young players on their journey. Our domestic Women’s League and Lord’s Taverners Junior League provide excellent opportunities for our young players to develop in competitive environments, appropriate to their age and stage of development and as performance programme, we are excited about the future talent coming through.”

GREAT BRITAIN’S U25 ROSTER

Team Staff

Daniel Price – Head Coach
Simon Fisher – Assistant Coach
Rosie Williams – Team-Manager
Laura Heathcote – Physiotherapist
Nathan Payne – Performance Analyst
Andrew Hogg – Doctor
Tanakom Sheepsomsong – Mechanic
Jayne Ellis – Performance Director

Words and Image courtesy of British Wheelchair Basketball