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Paralympian Mandip Sehmi set to join GB Wheelchair Rugby Board

GB Wheelchair Rugby (GBWR) is delighted to announce that Mandip Sehmi will be standing for election by the voting membership at the 2022 annual general meeting having been co-opted at the GBWR board meeting this week to represent the membership in the elected director position. This announcement follows the resignation of Jon Nutman from his board position; Jon has remained on the board whilst a suitable candidate was identified and the board thank him for all that he has contributed.
Mandip brings extensive experience to the table, as a three-time Paralympian (Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016) but also as Head Coach at Coventry Stampede Wheelchair Rugby Club. Mandip was part of the GB team that came fourth at the 2008 summer Paralympics in Beijing and be also holds three gold medals from the European Championships in 2005, 2007, and 2015. Mandip has been passionate about wheelchair rugby since sustaining a life-changing injury in a car crash in 2000 and first being introduced to the sport at the Stoke Mandeville hospital during his recovery and rehabilitation.
Mandip said: “I’m honoured to have this opportunity, particularly at such an important and exciting time for the sport as we begin the countdown to Paris as defending Paralympic champions. As a former elite athlete and now coach I am also passionate about the sport at grassroots level and keen to help spread the word and get more people involved in and benefitting from this amazing game. Wheelchair rugby has brought me so much over the last twenty years it is a privilege to stand for election.”
Mandip’s appointment will satisfy GBWR’s articles of association which require that a minimum of two elected directors have experience as past participants of the sport; the other trustee in this position being Mandip’s London 2012 GB teammate, Andy Barrow, who was co-opted in 2018 before being elected at the 2019 annual general meeting. These board positions ensure the membership have a voice on the board.
GBWR Chair Ed Warner welcomes Mandip to the board: “I’m delighted that Mandip Sehmi is joining the board of GB Wheelchair Rugby to represent the interests of our members. Manni is a three-time Paralympian and three-time European gold medallist, as well as being active as Head Coach at Coventry Wheelchair Rugby. He therefore brings extensive experience at all levels of our sport which will be invaluable as we build our community, with a particular focus on the opportunity presented by a home European Championships in Cardiff in 2023.”

CEO Jason Brisbane added: “The addition of Mandip to our board provides us with a unique perspective on the sport. His experience as a former wheelchair rugby Paralympian for GB, and also as an active coach in our league will provide valuable insights in those areas and help us continue to develop the sport. I look forward to working closely with him as we progress through the next Paralympic cycle.”

Wheelchair rugby became headline news this summer when the GB team won the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. A London 2012 legacy success story, the sport has grown dramatically since the home Games from a domestic league with a single division to one which now has three divisions. It is internationally recognised for its high level of competition with the result of the team’s hard work and commitment over the last few years resulting in Paralympic gold this summer. This unprecedented success marks a significant turning point for wheelchair rugby as it continues its long-term strategic development from its growth and investment at grassroots to elite-level nationwide.

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