Six WAIS athletes selected for 2021 Tokyo Paralympics Rollers squad

Six WAIS athletes Shaun Norris, Jannik Blair, Frank Pinder, Kim Robins, Jake Kavanagh and Thomas McHugh have been named in the Rollers squad ahead of the 2021 Paralympic Games.

Dual World Champion and 2008 Beijing gold medallist who claimed silver in Athens in 2004 and London in 2012 has been named captain of the 25-member squad.

Joining Norris is the experienced pair of Jannik Blair who claimed silver in 2012 and Kim Robbins, a member of the bronze medal winning 2018 world championship team.

Three rising stars Pinder, Kavanagh and McHugh have also been named in the strong WA contingent.

Australia is one of 12 nations who have qualified for the Tokyo Paralympic Games, after they continued their undefeated run at the 2019 Asia/Oceania Qualifying Tournament last year.

“I’m really excited that given the postponement of the Paralympics from 2020 to 2021 we get the chance to open the squad up for another year,” said Rollers Head Coach Craig Friday.

Norris who is looking to be selected for his fifth Paralympic Games holds more than 25 years’ experience playing wheelchair basketball is looking forward to the squad coming together to continue their preparation.

“The impact of COVID19 and interstate travel restrictions have made it difficult for us as we tried to organise camps and training over the past couple of months,” said Norris.

“However, the push to 2021 for Tokyo has its positives, and it will allow us to open the squad up to all our players, providing the whole group more opportunity to work hard and prove to the team that they can make it.”