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The 2025 IWBF U23 Men’s World Championship officially tipped off on 12 June in São Paulo, Brazil, with a thrilling day of competition and a vibrant Opening Ceremony that welcomed the twelve qualified nations and celebrated the global spirit of wheelchair basketball.
Held at the Centro de Treinamento Paralímpico Brasileiro, the Opening Ceremony brought all teams together for a parade of nations, marking the 8th edition of the tournament. The event was attended by distinguished guests including Yohansson Nascimento (Vice President, Brazilian Paralympic Committee), Marcelo Ferreira, Mario Belo (President of CBBC Brazil and the Local Organising Committee), Cleuma Gonzales, and IWBF Secretary General Gabriel Zangenfeind, who officially declared the competition open.
The ceremony featured performances and speeches, and honoured two important figures in the sport. A special tribute was paid to the late Norbert Kucera, IWBF’s Secretary General until his unexpected passing in early 2024. Kucera was a driving force behind the growth of international wheelchair basketball and a passionate advocate for youth development.
Also recognised was Roberto Ramos (Robertão), a pioneer of Brazilian wheelchair basketball. A former national team player and founding president of the Adapted Basketball Federation of Rio de Janeiro, Robertão was honoured for his lifetime contribution to the sport both on and off the court.
Day 1 Results
Hosts Brazil got their campaign off to a winning start with a hard-fought 63–53 victory over Canada in front of an energetic home crowd. Led by standout performances from João Nascimento (24 points, 19 rebounds) and Sérgio Junior (21 points, 10 assists), Brazil held their nerve in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Canadians in a closely contested opener.
In the other Group A clash, Germany showed their strength with a dominant 65–38 win over Australia. The Germans took control early, limiting the Aussies to just 10 first-half points. Julian Lammering led all scorers with 20 points, while Germany’s defence succeeded in keeping iAustralia’s Jaylen Brown contained, Eithen Leard top scored with 16 points.
There were commanding victories across the board in Group B, as USA, Great Britain, and Italy each made strong opening statements.
USA overwhelmed South Africa, 87–35, with Timothy Houston scoring 23 points in a game defined by the Americans' speed and execution. South Africa’s Ntando Nokama delivered an impressive 21-point performance in a challenging match-up.
Great Britain underlined their title ambitions with a powerful 86–29 win over reigning champions Japan. GB’s Oscar Knight dropped 21 points, with Jack Long adding 18, while Daito Koyama led Japan’s scoring with 10.
Meanwhile, Italy displayed excellent team basketball in their 89–16 victory against Thailand, with Luigi Topo contributing 18 points and Amorntep Kongpakhaw adding 10 for Thailand.
Teams wasted no time setting the tone for the week, with standout performances across both groups as the race to the quarter-finals got underway.
Watch & Follow
All games are being streamed live on the IWBF YouTube Channel and CBBC TV, with full game stats and leaderboards available here Live Stats & Results
Stay tuned for more updates, highlights, and standout moments from São Paulo!
