Kukri Sports Announce Four-Year Partnership With British Wheelchair Basketball

Kukri Sports are delighted to announce a four-year partnership with British Wheelchair Basketball, the governing body for the sport in the UK.

The agreement will see Kukri design and manufacture a bespoke GB apparel range for the sport’s national squads, as well as providing a full sport-clothing offering for British Wheelchair Basketball clubs, participants, and workforce.

Kukri will join British Wheelchair Basketball on its ambitious journey to double participation and realise professional leagues for the sport in the UK. The partnership comes as wheelchair basketball is included for the first time at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Kukri, who are the kit partner for Team England, will also provide kit for England’s wheelchair basketball team.

The four-year partnership will launch on Monday 16 November, with the hosting of British Wheelchair Basketball’s Virtual Club, powered by Kukri. The Virtual Club will see coaches lead online sessions for British Wheelchair Basketball members to support them to develop their skills within the home environment.

The 60-minute sessions will take place every Monday at 6pm, with the first session hosted by former GB wheelchair basketball Paralympian, Caroline Matthews MBE. Each session will be led by a qualified wheelchair basketball coach and focus on different fundamental skills and techniques, including chair movement, dribbling, passing, receiving, shooting; offence and defence.

Speaking about the announcement, Lisa Pearce, Chief Executive at British Wheelchair Basketball said:

“I’m thrilled to announce our partnership with Kukri. The next four years will be hugely positive for the sport as we look towards the Paralympic and Commonwealth Games and continue to forge ahead in our ambition to bring more participants into the sport and deliver professional leagues across the UK.

“Kukri will be producing bespoke kit designed specifically for British Wheelchair Basketball. Their passion for our sport and dedication to working collaboratively to help us perform at our optimum is hugely exciting.

“With further lockdown restrictions in place, it is essential that our members are able to access opportunities to stay active, whilst they cannot get on court. Our sincere hope is that the virtual club sessions will enable this activity whilst also supporting our participants to feel part of the wider wheelchair basketball community.

“For Kukri to work with us to launch the partnership during such challenging times really demonstrates their commitment to supporting our audience to remain active and stay connected.

“I’m delighted to have Kukri by our side, sharing our vision and values and coming on this journey with us over the next four years.”

British Wheelchair Basketball join an impressive list of partners for Kukri, including Team England, Loughborough Sport and Lancashire Cricket.

Chris Marshall, Sales Director of Kukri added “We are delighted to be launching our partnership with British Wheelchair Basketball and excited to be joining them on their journey to increase participation and deliver professional leagues. The valuable skills we have acquired as we head into our third cycle with Team England will enable us to deliver a kit that will inspires as well as performs”

“We have worked closely with our elite partners during these difficult times to help them deliver the tools to help their communities look after their health, both mentally and physically, and we look forward to the launch of the Virtual Club, a hugely important initiative to keep the wheelchair basketball community active and connected with their sport”

To find out more about British Wheelchair Basketball, visit www.britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk.