Gliders Going for GOLD!

After defeating the reigning Paralympic Champions the USA 40-39, the Australian Gliders will play for the Gold against Germany later tonight.

Bronze Medalists in Beijing four years ago, the Gliders will go into the gold medal match with full confidence after their thrilling game against the US.

Top shooters, all hitting eight points were WAIS’s Clare Nott and Amber Merritt along with (NSW) Kylie Gauci.

With the half time score at 26-26, the match was anyones until the Aussies outscored the US 12-2 to set up a ten point lead going into the final quater.

Despite the American’s spirited fightback, Australia held on to the lead for the narrowest of victories.

Gliders coach John Triscari was philosophical on his side’s tight win, but was already looking forward to the biggest match of his coaching career.

“It comes down to the ball to drop and the right things to go your way because this competition is so tight and that is an example of it, a one-point win and we could not score in the fourth quarter,” he said.

“My girls were very, very nervous going into that game and it showed. I will live with it. It is a ‘W’ and it gets us into the gold medal game.”

For Gliders veteran and three time Paralympian Kylie Gauci, tomorrow’s final is a chance to complete a straight set of medals.

“I went to Athens and Beijing. I have a silver and a bronze at home, so I’m going for the set tomorrow, which would be unreal. That’s our goal and we’re one step closer to achieving it,” she said.

On the match up with Germany, the Sydney resident predicted a tense, physical encounter.

“We need to get chair-on and be as physical as possible. They don’t like chair-on so we give it to them extra hard.”

“They are polite (the German girls), but they do get very cranky at us when we hit them. There is one player, in particular, who doesn’t like it at all. I’m sure you will pick it up early if we target her in the game tomorrow.”

The Gliders will play for gold on later night at the North Greenwich Arena.