Smith is eager for glory

6:20am Tuesday 13th May 2008

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Wendy Smith is eager for a shot at glory in Beijing after scooping wheelchair basketball bronze at the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.

The 36-year-old, from Tiptree, helped her side claim the final spot on the podium after a thrilling 57-34 victory over Brazil.

Smith was part of the GB team that reached the quarter-finals at the Athens Paralympics and is desperate to be on the plane to Beijing.

"Athens was an amazing experience," said veteran Smith. "The best one as far as I am concerned because it is the home of the Olympics.

"We did well to get to the quarters, but I would love to see us get further this time round.

"I thoroughly enjoyed it - it was an incredible experience, there is nothing like the Paralympics.

"I am looking forward to Beijing now, that is if I hopefully make it through to selection."

Great Britain were unbeaten on the first day of the competition but successive defeats to the Netherlands and then China in the semis, forced Gary Peel's side to settle for a place in the bronze medal play-off.

Head coach Peel said: "Overall I am happy, it has been a good performance throughout the week. We didn't stick to the game plan against the Dutch and Chinese and that cost us."

Smith, who took up basketball in 2002 and was called back into the squad, for the tournament explained how Peel had selection at the back of his mind with Beijing on the horizon.

She sad: "The tournament went really well. Against the Dutch we weren't playing for a win, we were just trying things out, trying to get things right and kept them guessing. It was disappointing to lose to China, but it felt good to finish with a win against Brazil."

The Paralympic World Cup is hosted by the British Paralympic Association. It is sanctioned by the IPC and IWB and supported by UK Sport, Manchester City Council and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).