Wheelchair Basketball Draw Made for Parapans

The draw for the Wheelchair Basketball event at November’s 2011 Parapan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, which will see the best three teams qualify for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, has been made.

A number of representatives from several teams were there to see the draw which was made by Maureen Orchad, President of the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation.

Brazil is keen to qualify for London 2012, but the draw, which puts them in Group A for the women’s event alongside Canada, Argentina and El Salvador, and in Group B for the men’s competition with USA, Argentina and Guatemala, will not give them an easy ride.

“We knew the Parapan American Games wouldn’t be easy and the draw has confirmed this,” said Fatima Fernandes, trainer of Brazil’s men’s Wheelchair Basketball team. “We want to be among the top three to compete in London.”

After finishing fourth at the BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester, UK, in May, the Brazilian men’s team is even more determined to improve their results.

“We lost to Canada, which is a very strong team and we’ve got to face them at the Parapan American Games,” said Fernandes.

The full draw for the 2011 Parapan American Games Wheelchair Basketball events is as follows:

MEN

Group A

1 - Canada

2 - Mexico

3 - Colombia

4 - El Salvador

Group B

1 - USA

2 - Brazil

3 - Argentina

4 - Guatemala

WOMEN

Group A

1 - Canada

2 - Brazil

3 - Argentina

4 - El Salvador

Group B

1 - USA

2 - Mexico

3 - Guatemala

4 - Peru