HE MAY be the youngest member of the British squad bound for the Wheelchair Basketball World Championships – but Chelmsford’s Jim Palmer is desperate to kick-off his international career with a gold medal in Hamburg.

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-year-old Phil Pratt from Sheffield Steelers.

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.

Palmer, 21, is determined to make his mark on one of the biggest stages of them all and claim top step on the podium – but he insists the pressure of his first World Championship appearance is not weighing him down.

“My personal aim is the same as everyone else, we’re going for gold,” said Palmer. “My training has been pretty full on ever since the beginning of the season.

“We had two trips away to Portugal and Poland, we had the Continental clash and in all our pre-games we’ve been undefeated.

“It’s a really good feeling being selected for GB, it’s my first time making the senior team after transition from the under-23 team, so I’m looking forward to the World Championships.

“On the team we’ve got so much experience and they’re such good role models, they’re always willing and happy to give a little bit of advice here and there just to tweak something that I’m doing slightly wrong or help me if I’m doing wrong.

“That’s a good thing, especially being the youngest in the team and that it’s my first ever time on the team as well.”

Palmer, who plays for Rhine River Rhinos 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 – but revealed America, the reigning Paralympic champions and 2014 World Championship runners-up, are the team to beat in Germany later this month.

“The World Championships that we had last year for the under-23s was really competitive, so I guess it’s going to be similar but even more competitive.

“It’s a lot more fast-paced and aggressive because the talent for the seniors is obviously a lot higher than you’d expect.

“We’re here every week training in Sheffield in this amazing facility so we’re really putting the work in, so hopefully it pays off.

“There’s a few teams to fear, we’ve got USA to play as our second pool game so that’s going to be a really good feeler as to where we are.

“I’ve witnessed Germany in previous tournaments, it’s such a nice venue, there’s a lot of crowd space and the audience sits quite close to the court as well which is nice.

“What they’re doing in Hamburg with the advertising has been really good, so I’m looking forward to it.”

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