Canada’s men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams are aiming to break a long world championship drought with the advantage of playing on home turf. The IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships will be held in Ottawa, marking the first time since 2014 that Canada hosts the event. The competition kicks off on Wednesday and the championship games are scheduled for Sept. 19.
This edition is unique as it is the first time that Canada hosts both the men’s and women’s world championships simultaneously, with 17 countries represented by 15 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams. However, Iran had to withdraw from the men’s tournament due to visa issues affecting key team members, resulting in their games being recorded as forfeits without altering the schedule.
The Canadian women’s team understands the significance of playing at home, having clinched the gold in Toronto during the last world championship held in Canada in 2014. Conversely, the men’s team is seeking their first world title victory since 2006. In 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.
For Arinn Young, a veteran player, this tournament holds special meaning as it is a rare opportunity to compete in a world championship on home soil. This will be her fourth world championship appearance and her second in Canada. At 30 years old, Young reflects on her rookie experience in 2014 when she was part of the gold-winning team but played limited minutes, jokingly referring to herself as “more of a cheerleader.”
Kady Dandeneau, another player on the team, emphasized Canada’s intention to assert themselves aggressively on the court, borrowing the phrase “elbows up” from Prime Minister Mark Carney. The Canadian teams are placed in challenging groups, with the women in Group A alongside China, Brazil, Great Britain, Australia, and Spain, while the men compete in Group D with Morocco and Germany following Iran’s withdrawal.
Despite lacking size, the Canadian men’s team, led by veteran Nik Goncin, emphasizes their chemistry and commitment to team basketball as their key strength. The men’s tournament is structured into four groups, with the U.S., Italy, Brazil, and the Netherlands forming Group A. Canadian head coach Matteo Feriani stresses the importance of being prepared for intense competition and physicality, especially as the home team.
The women’s team will face Spain in their opening match, while the men will take on Morocco. The defending world champions are the U.S. men’s team and the Netherlands women’s team. The stage is set for an exciting and competitive world championship event in Ottawa.
