The 2018 wheelchair basketball Ones to Watch

Players to look out for at upcoming World Championships 13 Aug 2018
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male and female wheelchair basketballers competing on the court
ⒸGetty Images / NPC China
By IPC

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced the Ones to Watch ahead of the 2018 Wheelchair Basketball World Championships set to take place from 16-26 August in Hamburg, Germany.

These are the players who have the potential to make headlines at the sport’s biggest competition outside the Paralympic Games. They include Paralympic and world champions, and their full biographies are available on the IPC website.

Alejandro and Pablo Zarzuela (ESP)

Towering twin brothers who helped Spain capture the nation’s first Paralympic medal in the sport at Rio 2016.

Gregg Warburton (GBR)

Prized product of Great Britain’s junior programmes. Helped his country take home Paralympic bronze in 2016 and European Championship gold in 2017.

Hiroaki Kozai (JPN)

With overseas experience at club teams and university, Kozai is used to playing with the best and brings that to a national team seeking glory ahead of their home Paralympics.

Jannik Blair (AUS)

Extremely talented and experienced low-pointer who has been a key piece to Australia’s wheelchair basketball success, including Paralympic silver from London 2012 and Worlds gold in 2014.

Laura Fuerst (GER)

Paralympic debutant at Rio 2016 now returns as an experienced member from that silver-medal squad who can help Germany remain a wheelchair basketball powerhouse.

Mariska Beijer (NED)

Scoring threat from all ranges on the court, and reason why the Dutch are gold-medal favourites at Hamburg 2018.

Rose Hollermann (USA)

Was the youngest player on the US women’s team that won gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympics and now returns as a leader.

Thomas Boehme (GER)

Floor leader for a German men’s side seeking their first World Championship medal, especially on home soil.

Xuejing Chen (CHN)

The 1.0-player a big reason why China could surprise and see their best finish at a World Championships.