As the new year approaches, the IWBF Asia Oceania Zone is gearing up for the much-anticipated 2024 IWBF Asia Oceania Championships set to unfold in Bangkok, Thailand, from January 12 to 20, 2024. The Bangkok Youth Center (Thai–Japan) will be the battleground for the wheelchair basketball competition, featuring top teams from across the region.

Men’s and Women’s Teams Ready for Action

The Men’s Championship will see clashes between the powerhouse teams in Pool A, including Australia, China, Iran, Japan, Korea, and Thailand. Pool B comprises Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates. Both pools will engage in a single round-robin format to determine rankings, with the top two teams in Pool B advancing to the quarterfinals as the 7th and 8th seeds in Pool A.

In the Women’s Championship, Pool A, consisting of Australia, China, and Japan, will play a double round-robin, while Pool B, featuring Cambodia, India, Laos, Philippines, Thailand and the inaugural composite Asia Oceania Zone Team, will engage in a single round-robin format. The top team in Pool B will secure the 4th position in Pool A, earning a spot in the semi-finals.

Citi Supporting Women’s Competition Growth

In a commitment to nurturing the expansion and advancement of women’s wheelchair basketball throughout the region, Citi, a key partner of PARA SPORT, the grassroots-to-high performance program of the International Paralympic Committee, is supporting the participation of the six teams (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, India, the Philippines, and the Asia Oceania Team) in these championships. This collaboration has a dual focus: promoting increased involvement and dismantling barriers. Notably, support is extended to less economically developed nations that might struggle to participate due to financial constraints. Furthermore, a distinctive opportunity arises through the formation of an Asia Oceania Zone team, bringing together players from nations like Nepal, Afghanistan, and Bahrain. Although the team’s performance won’t impact the overall standings, its primary goal is to serve as a source of inspiration and catalyst for heightened participation in the sport.

Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Qualification Stakes

The Asia Oceania Championship holds significant importance as the zonal qualification tournament for the wheelchair basketball competition at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The victorious teams in both the men’s and women’s categories will secure coveted tickets to the Paralympics, marking a historic achievement for the players and their nations.

Second and third-place finishers in the women’s competition will earn a place in the 2024 IWBF Women’s Repechage in Osaka, Japan. Meanwhile, the second-place team in the men’s competition will qualify for the 2024 IWBF Men’s Repechage in Antibes, France.

Free Admission for All

Spectators and fans are in for a treat as the championships are free to attend, with no tickets required. The organizers encourage everyone to come and witness the thrilling wheelchair basketball action and support the players competing for a chance to make history at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Get ready for a week of intense competition and sportsmanship in Bangkok!