IWBF U23 Worlds schedule released

“After consultation with the LOC we have come to a final agreement on the schedule. We will play four games a day at Yuregir and two at Menders.”

The complete schedule for the IWBF Under-23 Wheelchair Basketball World Championships has been released for the event, which will take place from 7-14 September in Adana, Turkey.

The event has been running since 1997 and this year it will be the first time that two-time defending champions USA will not be in attendance.

Instead, Venezuela have accepted the IWBF’s invitation to be the third team from the Americas Zone and will complete Group B along with Australia, Italy, Japan, Sweden and hosts Turkey.

On the first day of action in Group A, Canada will match up against South Africa, Great Britain face Mexico and Iran make their return from their 2008 Beijing suspension against Germany.

“After consultation with the LOC we have come to a final agreement on the schedule. We will play four games a day at Yuregir and two at Menders,” said IWBF President Maureen Orchard.

“We all believe this schedule will show case the talent of all the teams, while ensuring the public will get exciting matches whenever they come.”

Orchard said the absence of the defending champions will make this year’s tournament wide open and interesting to watch.