Blicavs in the mix for Paris Olympics

GEELONG sporting figure and basketballer Sara Blicavs will get the opportunity to again represent her country after being named to the 20-woman extended Australian Opals squad ahead of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying tournament.

Blicavs, who represented Australia at the 2020 Olympics and at the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup, is in line for her second Olympic appearance should she make the final roster.

The 30-year-old Melbourne Boomer will get the chance to earn a spot in the final 12-player Olympic squad through training and selection camps ahead of the Opals’ participation in the Group A tournament in Belem, Brazil.

Australia will play the host nation Brazil, Germany, and Serbia from February 8-11 and must avoid finishing last to qualify for next year’s Paris Olympic Games.

The Opals will again be led by Sandy Brondello, after she ceded head coaching responsibilities to assistant coach Shannon Seebohm at this year’s FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.

“The qualifiers in Brazil are definitely a challenge, the standard of women’s basketball globally has lifted considerably since the last Olympics as the game continues to gain momentum,” Brondello said.

“Our squad is a great mix of experience and exciting emerging talent, so we approach the qualifiers with confidence but great respect for our opposition.

“We will have limited preparation for these qualifiers, but we know with the Opals, we lift for the big occasion and with an Olympics spot on the line we can expect each player to bring it.”

Uncontracted Geelong United Supercat Chantel Horvat was not named in the squad despite featuring in this year’s FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.