Junior wheelchair basketball championships to begin in UK

“The Lord's Taverners National Junior Championships is our showcase event for junior wheelchair basketball.”

Inspired by the London 2012 Paralympic Games this summer, youngsters are eager to build up their Paralympic sport talents in Great Britain, and this weekend (19-21 October) the country’s top up-and-coming wheelchair basketball players will have the chance to do so at The Lord’s Taverners National Junior Championships.

Many of the 2012 ParalympicsGB wheelchair basketball players honed their talent and skills in The Lord’s Taverners Junior Programme, which includes the best players from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The athletes will head to Stoke Mandeville Stadium this weekend to compete for the Under-15 and Under-19 regional titles.

Included in the lineups are players from the Great Britain U-22 that, earlier this year, successfully qualified for the 2013 U-23 World Championships by reaching the bronze-medal game at the 2012 U-22 European Championships.

“The Lord's Taverners National Junior Championships is our showcase event for junior wheelchair basketball,” said Tina Gordon, British Wheelchair Basketball Junior Development Officer.

“Although fiercely competitive the Championships also fosters great friendships between rival teams, and provides the inspiration for many of our young players to go further to gain international honours.”