By Paul Osborne

Goalball UK has said it will appeal UK Sport's decision to withdraw its Olympic funding ©Getty ImagesFebruary 21 - Goalball UK has announced that it will appeal UK Sport's decision to withdraw the funding for the women's goalball team following its Annual Investment Review earlier this month.


Goalball was one of seven sports to lose its entire Olympic funding, alongside basketball, water polo, synchronised swimming, weightlifting, wheelchair fencing and five-a-side football, after UK Sport deemed them as "high risk" investments with "a very remote potential that they can really deliver a medal in Tokyo 2020."

According to Goalball UK, the decision would mean that the women's team "would not be able to compete at the 2016 Paralympics and even the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020 would be difficult".

Great Britain's women's goalball team had their funding almost quadrupled after just missing out on a place in the London 2012 semi-finals following a narrow defeat to Sweden ©Getty ImagesGreat Britain's women's goalball team had their funding almost quadrupled after just missing out on a place in the London 2012 semi-finals following a narrow defeat to Sweden
©Getty Images


Mike Reilly, chief executive of goallball UK added: "We are very disappointed and surprised by the decision to stop funding our GB Women's team.

"In our review process with UK Sport we were given a green rating and felt we had put across a good case for continued funding.

"We fully understand that UK Sport are responsible for investing public money in Olympic and Paralympic sports to maximise their chances of success.

"We strongly believe that with the right support our Women's team have every chance of winning a medal at the Games in Rio.

"In London 2012 our women just missed out on a medal and were the second most successful competing GB Women team sport across both Olympic and Paralympic sports.

"Over the last ten months we have put in place a new programme for our elite players which has led to team and individual improvements and moved the team from 15th to 13th in the world rankings.

"There is an opportunity to qualify for Rio via the 2014 European B Championships to be held in Hungary in September and to cut our funding before this tournament seems particularly harsh.

"Our route to Rio is still very much open."

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