Canada’s men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams are aiming to break a long-standing world championship dry spell with the help of playing on home turf. The IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships are set to take place in Ottawa, marking the first time Canada has hosted the event since 2014. The tournament will kick off on Wednesday, with the final matches scheduled for September 19.
This year’s championships are special as it is the first time both the men’s and women’s world championships are being held concurrently. A total of 17 countries will be represented, with 15 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams participating. Unfortunately, Iran had to withdraw from the men’s tournament due to visa issues affecting key team members, resulting in their scheduled games being forfeited with no changes to the overall schedule.
The Canadian women’s team knows the advantage of playing at home, having clinched gold the last time the world championship was hosted in Canada back in 2014 in Toronto. On the other hand, the Canadian men’s team is eying their first world title since 2006. At the previous world championships in Dubai in 2023, both Canadian teams made it to the quarterfinals, with the women finishing fifth and the men sixth overall.
Veteran player Arinn Young views this tournament as a full-circle moment, as opportunities to compete on home soil are rare, with the championships being held every four years. This will be Young’s fourth world championship and her second in Canada. She looks forward to showcasing her skills and representing Canada on home ground once again.
Kady Dandeneau, set to compete in her third world championship, emphasized Canada’s aggressive approach, stating that the team aims to set the tone and create their own opportunities rather than passively waiting for them. The women’s team is placed in Group A alongside China, Brazil, Great Britain, Australia, and Spain, while the men’s team is in Group D with Morocco and Germany following Iran’s withdrawal.
For the Canadian men’s team, the last world title was secured 20 years ago in Amsterdam, with a bronze medal in 1994 when Edmonton hosted the championships. Despite lacking in size, veteran Nik Goncin highlights the team’s chemistry as their strength, emphasizing the importance of playing as a cohesive unit rather than individual players.
The men’s tournament is divided into four groups, with the U.S., Italy, Brazil, and the Netherlands in Group A; Australia, Great Britain, Turkey, and Argentina in Group B; Spain, Japan, Poland, and Colombia in Group C; and Canada, Morocco, and Germany in Group D. Head coach Matteo Feriani stresses the need for his team to be prepared for intense competition and physicality, especially as the host nation, with every team aiming to perform well against Canada.
Canada’s women’s team will face Spain in their opening match, while the men’s team will take on Morocco. The reigning world champions are the U.S. men’s team and the Netherlands women’s team, setting the stage for an exciting and competitive championship event.