.png){kind=small}
The Netherlands women's team continued their invincible run and defended their title in style at the IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships – Dubai 2022 on Tuesday evening.
The Paralympic champions defeated China 57-34, in a repeat of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games finals result, stamping their dominance in women’s wheelchair basketball, at the World Trade Centre Halls in Dubai, UAE.
The Netherlands women were off to a strong start, and thanks to a clinical show in the second quarter they entered the half-time leading 31-17. A lead that they maintained for the rest of the game.
Netherlands' Mariska Beijer, who top scored for the Netherlands with 22 points, emotionally said:
“I am very happy. First, I was excited to make it to six finals in a row –Worlds, European Championships and Paralympics and then to win six titles in a row. This is unbelievable. We want to continue this winning momentum.
“We had a great preparation. We had a clear game plan and executed it; we made the basketball drop in the basket and we won.”
“For me, personally it was quite hard to be here and to be fit as I was sick last year. It took me around 11 months to be back in action, first quarantine and then rehabilitation. So, this is a special win,” the experienced Beijer said.
For China, Suiling Lin had a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) but still, it fell short. Despite the loss, China, however, took home their first-ever medal at a Worlds.
Text Credit: Priyanka Sharma / DCD
Pictures Credit: Mark Madrid / Essa Yahya / DCD & Steffie Wunderl /IWBF
Click here for full Women’s fixtures and results
Click here for full Men’s fixtures and results
Click here to find out more about the World Championships.
