WE'RE OFF TO THE PARIS OLYMPICS: HOCKEY & BASKETBALL
In the run up to the Olympic Games, each week we'll be presenting the athletes who will have the privilege of competing for Belgium in Paris between 26 July and 11 August 2024. We will present them discipline by discipline... Today, we're highlighting team sports with our three teams: the Belgian Cats in basketball and the Red Panthers and Red Lions in field hockey!
The Belgian Cats: As reigning European champions who pulled off the feat against Spain in 2023, Belgium's basketball players will be looking to improve on their seventh-place finish at the last Olympic Games.
In this competition featuring the world's top twelve nations, the Belgian Cats will have their work cut out against Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Serbia, Spain and the USA.
Here are the 12 players selected by Rachid Méziane, coach of the Belgian women's national basketball team:
Antonia Delaere - Becky Massey - Bethy Mununga - Billie Massey - Emma Meesseman - Elise Ramette - Ine Joris - Julie Allemand - Julie Vanloo - Kyara Linskens - Laure Resimont - Maxuella Lisowa-Mbaka
The Red Lions: Accustomed to podium finishes in major international competitions, and reigning Olympic champions after beating Australia in 2021, Belgium's men's hockey team will once again be among the favourites.
The field hockey tournaments will take place from 27 July to 9 August at the Yves-du-Manoir stadium, a venue inherited from the 1924 Summer Olympics, where the world's top twelve nations will be competing. The Belgians will face France, the Netherlands, Germany, China and Japan in their qualifying Pool A. Pool B features Australia, Argentina, Great Britain, Spain, the USA and South Africa.
Here are the 16 players selected by Michel van den Heuvel, coach of the Belgian men's national field hockey team:
Alexander Hendrickx - Antoine Kina - Arno Van Dessel - Arthur De Sloover - Arthur Van Doren - Félix Denayer - Florent van Aubel - Gauthier Boccard - John-John Dohmen - Loïck Luypaert - Nelson Onana - Nicolas De Kerpel - Tom Boon - Thibeau Stockbroekx - Victor Wegnez - Vincent Vanasch
The Red Panthers: Silver medallists at the last European Championships, Belgium's women's hockey team will be keen to cement their consistent progress on the Olympic stage.
Here are the 16 players selected by Raoul Ehren, coach of the Belgian women's national field hockey team:
Alix Gerniers - Ambre Ballenghien - Barbara Nelen - Camille Belis - Charlotte Englebert - Delphine-Daphné Marien - Elodie Picard - Emily White - Emma Puvrez - Hélène Brasseur - Judith Vandermeiren - Justine Rasir - Lien Hillewaert - Michelle Struijk - Stephanie Vanden Borre - Vanessa Blockmans
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