2019 Women's U25 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship

The 2019 Women's U25 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship was held at the Suphanburi Indoor Stadium in Thailand, from 23 to 27 May 2019. It was the third wheelchair basketball world championship for women in the under-25 age category. Eight nations competed: Australia, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Thailand, South Africa, Turkey and the United States. The event took the form of a round-robin tournament, with each team playing all the other teams once. The eight teams then went into quarter-finals, while the bottom two played each other for world ranking. The winners of the semi-finals faced each other in the final, while the losers played for bronze. The competition was won by the United States, with Australia taking silver and Great Britain claiming bronze.

2019 Women's U25 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship
VenueSuphanburi Indoor Stadium
LocationSuphanburi, Thailand
Start date23 May 2019
End date27 May 2019
Competitors8 teams from 8 nations
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Competition

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The 2019 Women's U25 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship was the third wheelchair basketball world championship for women in the under-25 age category. The event is held every four years; it was previously held in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, in 2011, and in Beijing, China, in 2015.[1] Thailand was chosen as the host in November 2018.[2]

Eight nations competed: Australia, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Thailand, South Africa, Turkey and the United States. The teams were divided into two pools. A draw ceremony was conducted in Bangkok on 1 April 2019, presided over by Ulf Mehrens, the President of the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF), and Chutinant Bhirombhakdi, the President of the Paralympic Committee of Thailand. Great Britain, Japan, South Africa and Thailand were assigned to Pool A, and Australia, Germany, Turkey and the United States to Pool B.[3] The competition format called for the teams to play each team in their pool. Based on the rankings, they then played a finals series.[4] Because there was only eight teams, all advanced to the quarter-finals.[5] The schedule was released in April 2019.[6]

Venue

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The event was held at the Suphanburi Indoor Stadium, a 4,000-seat stadium in the heart of Suphanburi.[7]

Teams

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The South African team was named on 8 May. The team included many players who were new to the sport, and some had never traveled on a plane before. The team officials were under no illusions about the difficulty of winning games, but saw the tournament as an opportunity to build their wheelchair basketball program, with an eye to qualifying for the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris.[8] Similarly, the Australian U25 team, known as the Devils, was unashamedly a development team, with only one of its eleven players being a member of the senior team, the Gliders: Annabelle Lindsay, who had played in the 2018 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship in Hamburg in 2018. Most of the youthful side would be eligible to play in the next U25 championship, and three would be eligible to play in the next three.[9] In contrast, Team Great Britain regarded itself as a serious contender, having won in Beijing in 2015, and the U24 European Wheelchair Basketball Championship in 2016 and 2018. The team included five members of the senior team: Joy Haizelden, Maddie Thompson, Kayla Bell, Siobhan Fitzpatrick and Charlotte Moore.[10]

Preliminary round

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23 May 2019
11:30
Thailand   16–35   South Africa
Scoring by quarter: 3–5, 6–6, 3–14, 4–10
Pts: Pattiang 4
Rebs: Lasopa 13
Asts: Lasopa 2
Pts: Mcelini 16
Rebs: Mcelini 8
Asts: Ngoni 5
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
23 May 2019
13:45
Japan   30–47   Great Britain
Scoring by quarter: 8–13, 6–11, 8–15, 8–8
Pts: Zaima 10
Rebs: Usui 12
Asts: Usui 6
Pts: Thompson 18
Rebs: Thompson 13
Asts: Haizelden 9
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
23 May 2019
16:00
Germany   37–55   Australia
Scoring by quarter: 6–17, 9–14, 10–16, 12–8
Pts: Weiss 10
Rebs: Hennig 5
Asts: Hennig 3
Pts: Lindsay 27
Rebs: Lindsay 12
Asts: Latu, Shadwell 4
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
23 May 2019
18:15
Turkey   16–70   United States
Scoring by quarter: 2–22, 4–18, 3–16, 7–14
Pts: Tan 6
Rebs: Atay 7
Asts: Atay, Tan 1
Pts: Moody 16
Rebs: Moody 10
Asts: Dunkin, Moody 4
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
24 May 2019
10:00
South Africa   8–81   Japan
Scoring by quarter: 4–20, 0–14, 4–27, 0–20
Pts: Mceleni 6
Rebs: Mceleni 8
Asts: Mceleni 1
Pts: Usui 23
Rebs: Usui 8
Asts: Yanigimoto 11
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
24 May 2019
12:15
United States   62–11   Germany
Scoring by quarter: 25–0, 14–0, 12–4, 11–7
Pts: Gonzalez 16
Rebs: Moody 10
Asts: Aslakson 5
Pts: Lieb 3
Rebs: Lieb 7
Asts: Lieb, Finger 2
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
24 May 2019
15:00
Australia   53–24   Turkey
Scoring by quarter: 11–0, 20–12, 14–6, 8–6
Pts: Shadwell 13
Rebs: Shadwell 9
Asts: Latu 5
Pts: Tan 16
Rebs: Atay 5
Asts: Atay 3
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
24 May 2019
17:15
Great Britain   73–10   Thailand
Scoring by quarter: 24–0, 18–2, 18–2, 13–6
Pts: Robinson 14
Rebs: Wheeler 14
Asts: Haizelden 7
Pts: Lasopa 8
Rebs: Lasopa 7
Asts: Putthanoi 1
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
25 May 2019
10:00
Germany   46–24   Turkey
Scoring by quarter: 13–4, 4–12, 14–8, 15–0
Pts: Lieb 15
Rebs: Schuren 7
Asts: Lieb 4
Pts: Tan 8
Rebs: Tan 11
Asts: Atay 3
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
25 May 2019
12:15
Thailand   4–47   Japan
Scoring by quarter: 0–19, 0–14, 2–10, 2–4
Pts: Lasopa 3
Rebs: Nanthasombat 9
Pts: Yanagimoto 8
Rebs: Hatakeyama 6
Asts: Zaima 3
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
25 May 2019
15:00
South Africa   12–80   Great Britain
Scoring by quarter: 2–27, 2–21, 4–16, 4–16
Pts: Ngoni 6
Rebs: Ndela, Mbatha 4
Asts: Ngoni 3
Pts: Atkin 20
Rebs: Fitzpatrick 9
Asts: Haizelden 6
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
25 May 2019
17:15
United States   56–31   Australia
Scoring by quarter: 20–4, 12–6, 12–14, 12–7
Pts: Hollermann 14
Rebs: Zurbugg 7
Asts: Dunkin 6
Pts: Shadwell 11
Rebs: Lindsay 12
Asts: Lindsay 4
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium

The first day opened well for South Africa, which scored its first ever win in the competition, with a 16-35 win over the host nation. Team GB got off to a shaky start against Japan, but claimed a 47-30 win. The Devils performed well against Germany, with Lindsay racking up 27 points and 12 rebounds in a 55-37 win. On the final game of the day, the USA was too good for Turkey.[11] On the second day, Japan notched up its first win, against South Africa;[12] the USA had little trouble with Germany;[13] the Devils held Turkey to a scoreless 11-0 first quarter before going on to post a second win;[14] and Team GB coasted to an easy win against Thailand.[15] On the third day, Germany defeated Turkey 46-24 to secure the third spot in Pool B,[16] and Japan defeated Thailand to grab second place in Pool A.[17] With another easy victory, this time 80-12 over South Africa, Team GB claimed the top spot in Pool A.[18] The final game of the round was a fight for the top spot in Pool B between the Devils and the USA. The USA concentrated on shutting down Lindsay, who had been averaging 35 points per game. This time she scored only 10 points, but Teisha Shadwell also proved a threat, and ended the game with a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds. When the USA rotated its players, the Devils began to gain the upper hand, winning the third quarter by two points. In the end, the USA won 56-31, and, undefeated, secured the top place in Pool B.[19]

Standings at end of playoff round

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Pool A

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Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1   Great Britain 3 3 0 200 52 +148 6 Quarter-finals
2   Japan 3 2 1 158 59 +99 5
3   South Africa 3 1 2 55 177 −122 4
4   Thailand 3 0 3 30 155 −125 3
Source: [1]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head results; 3) Points difference; 4) Points scored.

Pool B

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Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1   United States 3 3 0 188 58 +130 6 Quarter-finals
2   Australia 3 2 1 139 117 +22 5
3   Germany 3 1 2 94 141 −47 4
4   Turkey 3 0 3 64 169 −105 3
Source: [2]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head results; 3) Points difference; 4) Points scored.

Finals

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Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsGold medal
 
          
 
26 May
 
 
  United States65
 
27 May
 
  Thailand10
 
  United States78
 
26 May
 
  Japan24
 
  Japan42
 
28 May
 
  Germany37
 
  United States62
 
26 May
 
  Australia25
 
  Great Britain70
 
27 May
 
  Turkey15
 
  Great Britain36
 
26 May
 
  Australia42 Bronze medal
 
  Australia72
 
28 May
 
  South Africa12
 
  Great Britain63
 
 
  Japan31
 
Quarter-Final 1
26 May 2019
10:00
Japan   42–37   Germany
Scoring by quarter: 6–12, 10–5, 8–12, 18–8
Pts: Yanagimoto 21
Rebs: Usui 17
Asts: Yanagimoto 4
Pts: Weiss 10
Rebs: Weiss 13
Asts: Burgenthal 9
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
Quarter-Final 2
26 May 2019
12:15
Australia   72–12   South Africa
Scoring by quarter: 24–8, 16–2, 18–0, 14–2
Pts: Lindsay 32
Rebs: Lindsay 24
Asts: Latu 8
Pts: Mceleni 6
Rebs: Mceleni 9
Asts: Ngoni 2
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
Quarter-Final 3
26 May 2019
15:00
United States   65–10   Thailand
Scoring by quarter: 17–2, 14–2, 14–4, 20–2
Pts: Gonzalez 14
Rebs: Oberst 8
Asts: Gonzalez 6
Pts: Lasopa 8
Rebs: Nanthasombat 9
Asts: Lasopa 1
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
Quarter-Final 4
26 May 2019
17:15
Great Britain   70–15   Turkey
Scoring by quarter: 21–6, 16–2, 18–5, 15–2
Pts: Haizelden 16
Rebs: Fitzpatrick 8
Asts: Haizelden 9
Pts: Tan 7
Rebs: Tan 10
Asts: Atay 2
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
5/8 Crossover 1
27 May 2019
10:00
Germany   52–14   Thailand
Scoring by quarter: 17–4, 10–2, 9–1, 16–7
Pts: Risse 19
Rebs: Schuren 9
Asts: Weiss 6
Pts: Lasopa 12
Rebs: Lasopa 12
Asts: Lasopa 1
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
5/8 Crossover 2
27 May 2019
12:15
Turkey   48–25   South Africa
Scoring by quarter: 10–7, 14–4, 22–4, 2–10
Pts: Tan 24
Rebs: Tan 10
Asts: Atay 9
Pts: Mceleni 5
Rebs: Mceleni 7
Asts: Ngoni 4
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
Semi-Final 1
27 May 2019
15:00
United States   78–24   Japan
Scoring by quarter: 31–2, 20–7, 17–9, 10–6
Pts: Hollermann 33
Rebs: Moody 13
Asts: Dunkin 10
Pts: Yanagimoto 9
Rebs: Yamasaki 9
Asts: Yanagimoto 3
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
Semi-Final 2
27 May 2019
17:15
Great Britain   36–42   Australia
Scoring by quarter: 10–14, 11–9, 8–10, 7–9
Pts: Thompson 14
Rebs: Atkin 20
Asts: Haizelden 4
Pts: Lindsay 20
Rebs: Lindsay 26
Asts: Shadwell 9
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
7th/8th place game
28 May 2019
10:00
South Africa   26–19   Thailand
Scoring by quarter: 8–6, 8–2, 4–7, 6–4
Pts: Mbatha 8
Rebs: Mbath 11
Asts: Ngoni 3
Pts: Thalma-Aied 12
Rebs: Nanthasombat 26
Asts: Nanthasombat 1
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
5th/6th place game
28 May 2019
12:15
Germany   60–13   Turkey
Scoring by quarter: 14–4, 16–4, 12–2, 18–3
Pts: Erni 18
Rebs: Erni 10
Asts: Lieb 8
Pts: Atay 5
Rebs: Tan 11
Asts: Tan 3
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
Bronze medal match
28 May 2019
15:00
Great Britain   63–31   Japan
Scoring by quarter: 16–6, 14–6, 21–10, 12–9
Pts: Haizelden 14
Rebs: Haizelden 12
Asts: Haizelden 16
Pts: Usui 11
Rebs: Usui 14
Asts: Yoshioka 4
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium
Gold medal match
28 May 2019
17:15
United States   62–25   Australia
Scoring by quarter: 18–2, 18–2, 12–10, 14–11
Pts: Hollermann 18
Rebs: Dunkin 5
Asts: Dunkin 6
Pts: Lindsay 13
Rebs: Lindsay 14
Asts: Lindsay 3
Suphanburi Indoor Stadium

In the quarter-finals, Japan staged a thrilling 18-8 final quarter fight back to defeat Germany 42-37. In a hard-fought match, Japan's pressure held Germany to a dismal 19 percent scoring efficiency, while Amane Yanagimoto racked up 21 points, and Kotone Usui had a double-double with 10 points and 17 rebounds. It was Japan's first ever quarter-final win, and ensured its highest ever ranking.[20] For the Devils it would be their third semi-final appearance, with their place locked in with a 72-12 demolition of South Africa. Lindsay posted a double-double of 32 points and 24 rebounds, Georgia Bishop-Cash and Jess Cronje also posted double-doubles, and most of the rest of the team made the scoreboard.[21] A brave Thailand held the USA to just 31 points at half time, its lowest half-time score of the tournament, but could not stop them, and the USA went into the semi-finals undaunted, posting a final score of 65-10.[22] In the last quarter-final, Team GB defeated Turkey 70-15, with four players scoring in the double digits.[23]

In the crossover games, Germany bounced back from its defeat by Japan to defeat Thailand 52-14,[24] and Turkey celebrated its first ever win, a 48-25 victory over South Africa.[25] In the first semi-final, the USA beat Japan 78-24.[26] In the second, the Devils came up against the undefeated Team GB. Both sides subjected the other to intense defensive pressure, with Team GB forcing the Devils into a series of eight second violations. Maddie Thompson was pulled off after she racked up three personal fouls, and the British defence struggled with height of Lindsay and Shadwell. A three-point buzzer beater from Joy Haizelden left Team GB just two points down at half time, but the Devils pushed their lead out to four points by three quarter time. Team GB's press forced multiple turnovers, but the Devils' pressure caused Team GB to miss many shots, and they ended with an average shooting accuracy of just 22 percent. In the end, Team GB's undefeated run ended, and the Devils were into the final with a 42-36 win.[27]

South Africa won the 7th/8th place game against Thailand,[28] Germany defeated Turkey in the 5th/6th place game,[29] and Team GB rallied after its defeat by the Devils to claim the bronze medal with a win over Japan.[30] In the anticlimactic final game, Lindsay lined up against five of her team mates from the University of Texas at Arlington Lady Movin' Mavs wheelchair basketball team: Nina Welfle, Rose Hollermann, Abby Dunkin, Josie Aslakson and Elizabeth Becker.[31] The USA were too good, posting a 62-25 win. It was the USA's second win, and the Devil's third silver in a row.[32]

MVP and All Stars

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The 2019 Women’s U25 World Championship All-Star Five was announced at the closing banquet on the final night of the tournament at the Songphanburi Hotel, in Suphanburi. The All-Star Five is made up of the best 1 point player, 2 point player, 3 point player and 4 point player, plus the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament, as voted by their fellow competitors.[33]

All Star Five

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Source:[33]

Most Valuable Player

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Source:[33]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Women's U25 World Championships". International Wheelchair Basketball Federation. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Thailand to host 2019 WomenΓÇÖs U25 Wheelchair Basketball World Championships - IWBF". International Wheelchair Basketball Federation. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Pools drawn for 2019 WomenΓÇÖs U25 World Championship". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  4. ^ "U25 World Championship Schedule" (PDF). 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  5. ^ "2019 WomenΓÇÖs U25 World Championship Schedule released". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  6. ^ "2019 WomenΓÇÖs U25 World Championship Schedule released - IWBF". International Wheelchair Basketball Federation. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  7. ^ "Venue". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  8. ^ "South Africa Women's U25 team named for World Championship". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  9. ^ "U25 Devils team announced for IWBF World Championships". Paralympics Australia. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  10. ^ "GB announce experienced squad for 2019 Women's U25 World Championship". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  11. ^ "U25 World Championship action gets underway". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  12. ^ "Japan get first win of Womens U25 World Championship". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  13. ^ "Gonzalez leads the charge for USA against Germany". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  14. ^ "Australia Devils make it two from two at U25 World's". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  15. ^ "GB coast to win over Thailand at U25 World's". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  16. ^ "Germany topple Turkey to take third spot in Pool B". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  17. ^ "Japan defeat Thailand to ensure second place in pool". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  18. ^ "Great Britain dominate pool A with win over South Africa". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  19. ^ "USA go 3-0 with win over Australia". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  20. ^ "Japan clinch U25 World's semi-final spot for first time in its history". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  21. ^ "Australia make U25 World's semi-final for third consecutive time". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  22. ^ "USA remain untouchable and secure U25 World's semi-finals place". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  23. ^ "Reigning U25 World Champions Great Britain safely through to semi-finals". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  24. ^ "Germany bounce back to progress to 5-6 Placing game". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  25. ^ "Historic first win for Turkey's U25 women's team". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  26. ^ "USA head to gold medal game with unblemished record". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  27. ^ "Australia knock out reigning champions Great Britain to head into gold medal game". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  28. ^ "South Africa hold off Thailand fightback to secure seventh". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  29. ^ "Fifth place finish for Germany at the U25 World's". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  30. ^ "Great Britain claim U25 World bronze over Japan". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  31. ^ "Women's Team - Movin Mavs". The University of Texas at Arlington. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  32. ^ "USA crowned 2019 WomenΓÇÖs U25 World Champions". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  33. ^ a b c "All- Star Five 2019 Women's U25 World Championship revealed". 2019 Women's U25 World Championships. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
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