WYCOMBE’S wheelchair basketball trio Matt Sealy, Clare Strange and Louise Sugden have been given a huge boost if they plan to play on until the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016.

UK Sport and Sport England have increased funding into their sport for the next four years.

Wheelchair basketball was one of the winners of the new funding cycle announced last week, despite mixed fortunes at London 2012.

While Sealy and the men were beaten in the semi-finals by eventual winners Canada, the women – captained by Sugden and Strange, inset, – fell one round earlier, eventually beating Mexico to finish seventh.

British Wheelchair Basketball’s Chairman, Malcolm Tarkenter, said: “The funding provides significant investment in the GB women’s team, as they have demonstrated the potential for great things with 2016 in their sights, together with the men, we will be challenging for two medals.