• Berwick News

By Melissa Meehan

9th July 2009 02:05:24 AM

Meredith Tripp (captain), Jonathon Tripp, Nathan Stewart, Robert Paton, Michael Spain are ready to take on the world. Sam Millard is absent. 32542

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THEY are small people with a big game.

The Australian National Dwarf Basketball Team is training hard before heading to Belfast, Ireland, to compete in the World Dwarf Games.

Led by Endeavour Hills coach Margaret Daly, the Victorian component of the national team trains twice a week at the Dandenong Basketball Stadium.

The team is made up of 10 players, six from Victoria, three from New South Wales and one from South Australia.

“That has been one of the hardest things,” captain Meredith Tripp said.

“We have previously had such a fierce rivalry with the NSW team, so working together to become a team when we play such different games has been the biggest challenge for us.”

Travelling between Melbourne and Sydney for monthly training sessions is also a challenge, as has been finding money for their trip.

Without a sponsor, the team has had to raise it on its own through fundraisers, trivia nights and auctions.

It is the first time an Australian team will compete in the World Dwarf Games.

Joining them will be five other athletes. All 15 will compete in a range of sports including basketball, athletics, table tennis, bocce, swimming and power lifting.

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