CHENNAI: An all-women wheelchair basketball team with 10 players and their two coaches officially left from Chennai for an international training camp in Thailand recently, supported by a grant from the Australian Consulate General, Chennai. The team, selected by the Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India (WBFI) has players from Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. They will visit the training camp at Chon Buri, Thailand, conducted by the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Asia Oceania Zone, and will learn the fundamental skills professionally manner. They will also get to interact with teams from other countries.
Sean Kelly, Australian Consulate General, reiterated the support given to the team through their direct aid programme with a grant of `2.58 lakh.
“We are pleased to support this talented bunch of players and hope the international exposure will help them develop their skills in the sport. I also look forward to watching them play in an international forum very soon,” he said, and added that the programme was specifically designed to support initiatives for women’s empowerment and social inclusion, and that both were achieved through this womens team.
“Apart from training players, another important aspect of this trip is that the coaches will get technical exposure,” said Madhavi Latha, president, WBFI, accompanying the players. “Coaches will learn more about injury management, fitness levels and proper nutrition.”
The goal is to create an international paralympic team, and it’s important to bring new players. “I hope that the support of the Consulate General would also create more awareness,” she added.