Coenraad And Hire Excited For Australian 3×3 Women

Australian 3×3 players Tim Coenraad and Greg Hire believe the women’s national team has a legitimate chance to win an Olympic medal.

3×3 basketball will make its Olympic debut this year, with the Australian women’s team to compete in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) on March 18-22 in India.

The OQT is the last chance Australia’s women have to qualify for the Olympics, with the top three teams from the tournament punching their ticket to Tokyo. Australia has been drawn in Pool B alongside Japan, Iran, Ukraine and Turkmenistan. It was announced last week Alice Kunek will miss the OQT due to an elbow injury suffered in the WNBL season.

According to Coenraad, who won gold for Australia at the 2019 FIBA 3×3 World Cup, the women still have a massive chance to make an impact on 3×3’s biggest stage.

“I’m so happy for those girls, they’ve really stepped into being the poster child for 3×3, especially in Australia because the women’s side is a lot stronger right now,” Coenraad said.

“I really fancy their chances because they’re a great team…they can really make some noise. I’m pumped for them and I’m pumped for their opportunity to get to the Olympics.”

Hire, who also won gold at last year’s Asia Cup, echoed Coenraad’s sentiments, saying the women’s team has the ability to do something special if they make the Olympics.

“They’ve had an unbelievable campaign,” Hire told Sportsday WA.

“I think every single tournament they participate in they win gold or are right up there and unlucky not to medal, especially at the World Cup. I would be surprised if they don’t make the Olympics.

“I’m kicking myself we don’t have the opportunity to qualify for the Olympics but it’s awesome for those girls and I think they’re a really strong medal chance which would be awesome for Australia.”