COVENTRY was represented on an international stage last week as two Coventrians helped Great Britain’s women’s wheelchair basketball team win silver at the IWBF European Championships.
Charlotte Moore and Siobhan Fitzpatrick were among the 12 players to achieve the feat, which means GB has secured its place at next year’s Paralympic Games in Paris.
Joy Haizelden, who spent many years playing competitively for the Coventry Wheelchair Basketball Academy before signing for the University of Alabama, was rewarded for her performances by earning a place in the tournaments All-star Five.
After losing their first game against Germany, GB battled back before going on to beat France, Turkey and Spain to book their place in the semi-finals.
The team then got revenge on Germany for their opening day defeat, beating them by 23 points before falling short against current Paralympic gold medalists and hosts the Netherlands in the final.
All three players have achieved success with GB before, representing their nation at the Toyko Paralympics, while Charlotte and Joy played for team England at last summer’s Commonwealth Games.
Siobhan, whose other achievements included being selected as a Coventry baton bearer in last year’s Queens Baton Relay, said the team now couldn’t wait for next summer’s Paralympic Games.
