Veteran Terry Bywater has his eyes firmly on the prize in Hamburg this month, with the 35-year-old from Middlesbrough determined to land a medal at the Wheelchair World Championships.

The British squad boasts vast experience, including eight of the 12 players who contributed to the bronze medal-winning performance at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games – and will be skippered by 24-yearold Phil Pratt.

Britain face Poland, South Korea and the United States in Pool B – and head into the World Championships in excellent form having gone undefeated at British Wheelchair Basketball’s recent Continental Clash in Sheffield.

Bywater will be competing at his fifth World Championships and the North East athlete is determined to make his mark on one of the biggest stages of them all and claim top step on the podium.

He said: “It’s my fifth World Championships, but it is a fantastic opportunity to represent my country at the highest level.

“It’s a very proud moment to go to Germany next week. We have got quite a good blend, with a lot of experience in the team and a lot of young guys coming through.

“I have been giving them some information regarding the tournament and maybe how to adapt to the situations during the game and rest time.

“They are young players, but they have all got smart heads and they are ready to go.

“This is a massive tournament for me. It could be my last World Championships representing Great Britain. Unfortunately, in the last two competitions we have played at we have only lost one game, but it was a quarter final.

“We have got a point to prove. We are one of the best in the world, everyone knows that and there are a lot of teams out there that are wary of us. We just need to go out there and enjoy it. If we enjoy it and play some decent basketball, we can genuinely go all the way.”

Bywater insists Britain are as well prepared as they can be for the competition in Hamburg and revealed the preparation has been meticulous.

He has also encouraged the nation to get behind the British team – and outlined how he got into the sport he has fallen in love with.  

“The tournament is too tight to call,” added Bywater. “You have got to get a bit of luck along the way.

“The preparation has been fantastic. We are so lucky to have this arena at Sheffield. “This is a tournament you want to watch. I just ask anyone that’s interested in disabled sport to get on the internet and watch an exceptional event. It’s probably going to be the best wheelchairbasketball that you are ever going to see.

“I went to an open day and just started playing for fun and next thing you know I have been to five World Championships, five Paralympic Games and the sport is in my heart.”

#TogetherWeAreGB & Follow the action at www.britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk