Teams of European Wheelchair Basketball Championships 2015
Europe is without a doubt the most developed region in the world. This region has had its fair share of wars, but for the last half-century, it remained the most peaceful in the world. Europe always leads the world no matter what we talk about. Whether it be technology, healthcare, or environment, this region ensures that its people remain happy and ahead of the time.
One of the best examples of how almost entire Europe takes complete care of its people is the European Wheelchair Basketball Championship. As the name suggests, it’s a tournament in which people disable legs to compete with other countries in a basketball match. They can’t run or jump, so they are provided wheelchairs. They remain on the wheelchair the entire time and use the upper body to push it while also controlling the ball. As it’s a team sport, every player keeps passing on the ball to other team members until they score.
Europe organises the biggest Wheelchair Basketball Championship in the world. It’s been doing that since 1970. Today, there are 12 European countries that participate in this game. There are two different teams for men and women. Another gesture that shows Europe provides equal opportunities to not just disabled people also to every gender. There are seven women Wheelchair Basketball teams that also become a part of this prestigious event.
The 22nd men’s and 18th women’s European Wheelchair Basketball Championship was held in 2015. On this page, we have discussed all teams that participated in this championship to win the one title. All men’s teams are divided into Group A and Group B. Initial matches are conducted within the groups in which four teams with least scores are dropped. The surviving eight teams then play each other until two make it to the finals and one win the title. On the other hand, women wheelchair basketball teams play in one pool group without any division. All these teams play each other and teams with low score points are dropped at every phase until three champions remain one of which bags the gold medal. Here are the teams and their groups that played in European Wheelchair Basketball Championship 2015.
Group A in IWBF Europe 2015:
- Poland
- Czech Republic
- Germany
- France
- Great Britain
- Spain
Group B in IWBF Europe 2015:
- Netherlands
- Israel
- Italy
- Turkey
- Switzerland
- Sweden
Women’s Pool Group in IWBF Europe 2015:
- France
- Netherlands
- Germany
- Turkey
- Great Britain
- Israel
- Italy
- Spain
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France
France is just good at romance; its wheelchair basketball team shows that they can also ace at any sport. Since 1970 the men team of Wheelchair Basketball has seven gold medals. It was the highest until Great Britain won the 2015 championship and now stand equal to France. While there is no denying that the French team was one of the strongest opponents, but it couldn’t make it past the knockout round in this tournament.
Its women, on the other hand, have only been to win the gold medal since 1974. Nonetheless, it’s considered the third most powerful Wheelchair Basketball team of women.
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Great Britain
Great Britain isn’t just great by its team, and it has proved it with its performance. Currently, Great Britain is considered the strongest men wheelchair basketball team with most medals. It has the same number of golds as France, but it makes to the top three almost every time. Great Britain has won a total of 17 medals in the men’s category. It also won the 2015 championship.
The women team of Great Britain is also a powerful opponent; however, it has never been able to win a single gold. It had made to top three ten and won bronze all ten times.
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Germany
Germany is a country where people take sports very seriously. Unfortunately, its men’s wheelchair basketball hasn’t been able to win a lot of medals. It has only won two silver and two bronze medal. The women’s team, however, is an opponent no one wants to face. Its women wheelchair basketball team has won a total of 16 medals, ten of which are gold and 6 are silver.
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Netherlands
The only team strong enough to women’s wheelchair basketball team of Germany a hard time, Netherlands. They have won almost as many medals as Germany, fifteen, six of which are gold and eight silver and one bronze.
Its men’s team is also not very behind in the score and is considered one of the five most powerful wheelchair basketball teams with one gold, seven silver, and five bronze.
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Turkey
Half Asian half European country, Turkey, is an active member of European Wheelchair Basketball. Turkey has won one gold, three silver, and three bronze in men’s category; however, unable to score any of the top three positions in women’s category.
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Israel
Israel’s women team has won two silver and two bronze in this European championship. Its team in men’s category is also not behind; as a matter of fact, it is considered the third most powerful wheelchair basket opponent. After all, they have won three gold medal and one silver.
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Italy
Italy’s team is just as tough as any other team and it proved it in the championship of 2015 when it secured the sixth position. It has also won three gold medals since 1970.
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Spain
The beautiful country of Spain hasn’t been able to win a single gold yet in any of the categories. It was defeated by Turkey in 2015 championship in quarter-finals, but it still managed to secure the fifth position.
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Sweden
Sweden was a part of group B in 2015 wheelchair basketball championship. Unfortunately for its fans, it couldn’t pass the knock-out round. But it doesn’t mean that it can’t make tough opponent. It has also won one gold and two bronze medal.
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Switzerland
Switzerland was also a part of group B with Sweden in 2015 and it also couldn’t qualify from this round. It doesn’t yet have a women’s team in this sport.
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Czech Republic
This country was also unable to clear the qualifying rounds as its score was in minus points and lowest in its group.
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Poland
Poland was one of the strongest teams of Group A and stood with second-highest score until quarter-finals. It was matched against the Netherlands in next round where it couldn’t hold its ground.
