Local heads national team

Four-time Australian Paralympian and Woy Woy resident Ms Liesl Tesch has been named as captain of the Australian Women's Wheelchair Basketball team (Gliders), which will compete at the Osaka Cup in Japan from February 14 to 16.

"Canada, Japan and the USA will also be competing at the tournament, bringing together four of the top five women's wheelchair basketball teams in the world, on current rankings," according to Parramatta Basketball Association media officer Mr Noel Rowsell.

Ms Tesch, a teacher at Woy Woy campus of Brisbane Water Secondary College, was one of six NSW players in the team.

"This is an excellent tournament for Basketball Australia to be involved with," said Mr Rowsell.

"The Osaka Cup is being held to promote sports for people with disabilities and to contribute to international exchanges - but we're also preparing for the Beijing Paralympics so we will naturally benefit from the competition."

Press release, 22 Jan 2008 Noel Rowsell, Parramatta Basketball Association