The German wheelchair basketball players missed the bronze medal at the World Championships in Dubai. In the game for third place, the team of national coach Dirk Passiwan lost to the USA 42:57 (20:35) on Tuesday.
The best player on the German side was captain Mareike Miller with a double-double of 15 points and ten rebounds, while Rose Marie Hollermann stood out from the US team with 14 points and twelve rebounds.
As in the narrow semi-final defeat against China (45:49) on Sunday, the German selection also let their opponents go against the Americans after a balanced start in the second quarter and was unable to catch up by the final whistle.
The German men lost the game for seventh place on Monday after a buzzer beat by Australia 57:59 (27:31). “We gave the Australians a tough fight today, believed in our chances until the very end and repeatedly fought our way back. In the end we didn’t manage to bring victory home,” said national coach Nicolai Zeltinger.
The next chance for precious metal is already in August with the European Championships in Rotterdam.