Leicester's George Bates insists the British team are in pinnacle condition and capable of challenging the world’s best for gold as he heads to the Wheelchair Basketball World Championships in Hamburg later this month.

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.

Bates is determined to make his mark on one of the biggest stages of them all and claim top step on the podium – but has singled out America as the team to beat.

“Since I’ve been in the team, I think this is the best preparation we’ve ever had, we’re 13 wins from 13 games, so you couldn’t ask for anything better,” said Bates.

“We’re in a really good place going into these World Championships. When times get tough, if you’re genuinely close to people and your real friends it will show.

“I think if you’re not that close when testing times come then there’ll be fractions within the team and people start having disagreements when the pressure wraps up.

“I feel we’re not going to have that issue because we all want the same thing and we’re all really good friends.

“As long as the team wins that’s all I want and care about. America will be the toughest opponent, but we also must worry about Australia and Turkey, they’re the main three that will test us.”

Bates, who plays for Leicester Cobras, insists Britain are as confident 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.  

“It’s probably the best feeling in the world getting selected for GB, every young sportsman has a dream to represent their country and other than the Paralympics the World Championships is the biggest event in our sport,” said Bates. “So, it’s more of a dream come true than anything really.

“The atmosphere at the World Championships will be completely different, it’s more like a professional sport then, you’re in front of a full stadium and there’s cameras and media, compared to playing in a local sports hall or something like that.

“One reason people should watch is that we’ve got a genuine chance of winning, I think that it’s always fun to watch if your country is doing well and anyone who watches the sport that hasn’t seen it before always loves it, they can’t believe the skill and the talent that international players have, it’s so fun and exciting.

“I went to a have-a-go day in Leicester, I was in hospital and there was a poster for my local team (Leicester Cobras), so I went down and tried it when I was about 12 years old and enjoyed it, then they invited me to train.

“From there on out, I carried on and slowly progressed. I never ever thought that I’d turn it into a career or represent my country, I just thought it was about having fun with friends and getting out.”

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