Three Australian officials will take their place on wheelchair basketball’s biggest stage after earning appointments to the 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships in Ottawa, Canada.
Basketball Australia congratulates Cathy Hay, Blaine Krapljanov and Elizabeth Woods on their selection for the tournament, which runs from September 9–19.
Hay and Krapljanov will officiate as referees, while Woods has been appointed as a Game Commissioner.
Their selection will see Australia represented both on and off the court at a tournament featuring 336 athletes from 28 national teams—16 men’s and 12 women’s—across 11 days of competition.
For Hay, the appointment marks another significant step in her international officiating career. She was previously selected as an International Technical Official for the 2025 IWBF Men’s Under-23 World Championship.
Krapljanov heads to Ottawa with extensive international experience, having officiated at previous IWBF World Championships and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Woods has built an accomplished career as an international technical official, with her appointment recognising years of commitment and consistently high-level performance.
Basketball Australia Performance Officiating Manager Darryl Durham welcomed the selection of all three officials.
“We are incredibly proud to see Cathy, Blaine and Elizabeth selected for important roles at the Ottawa World Championships,” Durham said.
“Their appointments reflect the quality and depth of Australian officiating and the strength of our pathway for international wheelchair basketball officials.
“We wish them every success in Ottawa and thank them for representing Australia and Basketball Australia on the world stage.”
The IWBF Technical Commission oversees the training, examination and qualification of international referees, referee supervisors and instructors. It is also responsible for selecting officials for major events, including the World Championships and Paralympic Games.
The Australian Gliders will begin their Group A campaign against China on 9 September, while the Rollers open their Group B schedule against Argentina on 10 September.
Hay, Krapljanov and Woods will join the Rollers and Gliders in carrying the green and gold onto the world stage in Ottawa.
