Basketball star's GB hopes (From Times Series)

Basketball star's GB hopes

8:00am Wednesday 1st July 2009 in

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Wheelchair basketball star Louise Sugden is targeting a place in the British team for the upcoming FSB European Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Championships.

The 24-year-old, who plays for Aspire Force in Stanmore, is determined to get into the side and is currently training three times a week at the Great Britain base in Stoke Mandeville.

The venue will host the tournament in August, with sides from Holland, Turkey, Spain, France, Germany and Italy forming the opposition.

Louise was pictured handing a petition to Number 10 Downing Street earlier this year, after the government cut the sport’s funding and plunged the European Championships into doubt.

The Federation of Small Businesses has since pledged to back the team.

Louise said: “To play in front of a home crowd at such a prestigious event would be amazing. I’m doing my very best to make sure that I get into the team.

“I believe it was 25 years ago that the last Paralympics Games were held in Britain - it’s amazing to think I wasn’t even born then and yet now I’m hoping to play for my country where it all began.”

FSB sponsorship chairman Norman Lay said: “We’re over the moon to be backing the best of British once again. It’s 25 years since the Americans pulled their funding from the first Paralympic basketball tournament - our members came to the rescue then and we’re delighted to be sponsoring such a worthy event now.”

The championships will give selectors their first serious look at potential players for the 2012 London Paralympics.