GB pick Beijing basketball sides

GB men's coach Murray Treseder makes a point to his team

Paralympics GB have selected the men's and women's wheelchair basketball teams for the Beijing Games.

The men's squad features seven players who helped Great Britain win bronze four years ago in Athens.

They will face hosts China in their opening game, followed by Australia, USA, Brazil and Israel.

The women, who have eight of the Athens squad in their ranks, will play Australia, Brazil, the USA and Germany in their pool games.

Teenager Helen Freeman will make her Paralympic debut alongside Joanne Harper, Pauline McDonald and Louise Sugden.

"This is a great selection," said GB women's coach Garry Peel.

"With four of the squad making their Games debuts in Beijing, there is a good mix of experience and fresh talent.

"If they put the effort in with training and play to their abilities then we should reach our aim of finishing within the top six."

BBC PARALYMPICS BLOG There will be pressure on the men, who won bronze in Athens after suffering a heartbreaking defeat in Sydney in 2000 BBC Sport's Elizabeth Hudson

The men will hope to at least match their achievement of four years ago where they beat the Netherlands in the third and fourth place play-off.

They have experience with the likes of Simon Munn, Jon Pollock, Kevin Hayes, Peter Finbow and Terry Bywater who all played in last weekend's Paralympic World Cup.

Andy Blake and Matt Byrne, who both missed the tournament through injury, have both been selected.

Abdi Jama, Simon Brown, Joe Bestwick, Jon Hall and Ade Oregbemi will be making their Paralympic debuts.

Men's coach, Murray Treseder, said: "It was a very tough selection to make because the squad of 15 were all pretty even.

"Our performances were promising at the Paralympic World Cup especially as it was the first time they've played together this year.

"We've got a lot of improvements to make but we're confident that we'll be able to make those between now and Beijing."

The wheelchair basketball events at the Games take place at the University of Science and Technology Gymnasium before the finals at the National Indoor Stadium.

---

GB squads

Men: Joe Bestwick, Andy Blake, Simon Brown, Matt Byrne, Terry Bywater, Peter Finbow, Jon Hall, Kevin Hayes, Abdi Jama, Simon Munn, Ade Orogbemi, Jon Pollock. Reserves: Ghaz Choudhry, Dan Highcock, Ian Sagar.

Women: Jill Fox, Helen Freeman, Joanne Harper, Caroline Maclean, Caroline Matthews, Pauline McDonald, Wendy Smith, Clare Strange, Louise Sugden, Helen Turner, Sally Wager, Ann Wild. Reserves: Paula Johnson, Laurie Williams