The Australian women’s wheelchair basketball team, who entered the 2012 London Paralympics as far-less likely medal candidates than their male counterparts, will tonight take part in a mouth watering semi-final clash with the USA for a spot in the gold medal match.
The Gliders, containing University of Sydney representatives Sarah Stewart and Katie Hill, lost just one of their pool matches on the way to the quarterfinal showdown with Mexico, whom they disposed of comfortably on Tuesday evening by 25 points.
The victory has set up a titanic semi-final against the USA. The last time that the Gliders met the USA in Paralympic competition was four years ago in Beijing, also in the semi-finals. The Gliders were defeated, but went on to win bronze, while the USA claimed gold.
On day 7, the swimming events continued in the London Aquatic Centre, with University of Sydney commerce student, SUSF Elite Athlete Program(EAP) scholarship holder and Sydney Uni Swim Club member Katrina Porter finishing sixth in the women’s SB6 100m breaststroke final. Porter will compete in the heats of the women’s 400m Freestyle S7 this evening. The final is scheduled for Friday morning.
Finally on day seven, London’s main stadium hosted the wheelchair track & road events, where University of Sydney science student and former EAP scholarship holder Angela Ballard placed fifth in the women’s T53 800m. Ballard’s next event is the women’s 200m T53 final on Thursday morning.
Thursday 6 September
7:07pm
Swimming – Women’s 400m Freestyle S7 – Heats
Katrina Porter
10:00pm
Wheelchair Basketball – Women v USA – Semi-Final
Sarah Stewart and Katie Hill
Friday 7 September
2:58am
Swimming – Women’s 400m Freestyle S7 – Final (provided she qualifies)
Katrina Porter
5:59am
Athletics – Women’s 200m T53 – Final
Angela Ballard
