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Great Britain men forced to forfeit European wheelchair basketball final

GB men forced to forfeit European wheelchair basketball final
© Reuters
Great Britain's men's wheelchair basketball team are forced to forfeit the final of this year's European Championships due to a coronavirus case.

The Great Britain men's wheelchair basketball team have been forced to forfeit the final of this year's European Championships due to COVID-19.

The news comes two days after the women's side - who saw off Germany to reach the showpiece event - also had to forfeit because of concerns over coronavirus.

Now, one unnamed team member on the men's side has also contracted COVID-19, meaning that GB will not be competing for continental glory against the Netherlands in Madrid.

A statement on britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk read: "This morning, the GB Men's Team have made the difficult decision to forfeit their 2021 European Championship Gold medal game due to be played later today.

"As defending Champions this has been a tremendously hard decision that the team has collectively reached. The Team's priority remains to safeguard the health and wellbeing of not only the GB athletes and staff members, but also of the wider competition community at the 2021 European Championships in Madrid.

"Following a confirmed COVID-19 case within the squad this morning, the team member will now undergo 10 days of isolation in Spain. Throughout the tournament, British Wheelchair Basketball has given all players and staff members the opportunity to return home, should they have any concerns about Covid-19."

"British Wheelchair Basketball has consistently prioritised the health and wellbeing of its players and they return home with the full support of the organisation."

GB's men's team have reached the final of the European Championships in each of the last five editions - winning four of them - including their 77-52 triumph over Spain in the 2019 final.

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Krysten Coombs of Britain pictured on September 5, 2021
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