Between six and eight competitors will participate in wheelchair fencing, and the BPA chief executive, Tim Hollingsworth, said: "I'm delighted that we have been able to confirm the host country slots for Wheelchair Fencing.

"The sport has shown real progress since Beijing, where only one athlete competed.

"They now have a strong squad that are demonstrating competitive results, with a number of athletes on track to qualify by right and eight athletes reaching the last sixteen at major competitions this year.

"It has been encouraging to see a cohort of young athletes emerge as well, indicating that beyond London, the prospects are positive for Rio (in 2016).

"The decision for goalball and women's sitting volleyball is not a 'no', it is a deferral at this stage.

"Both sports have a tougher challenge to meet credible performance standards for London as neither sport competed in Beijing or Athens.

"It is therefore right that they have longer to continue developing prior to any final decision having to be made."

The British Disabled Fencing Association performance manager, Justine Willmott, said: "We're delighted with the news that the BPA has decided to accept the host country slots allocated for Wheelchair Fencing at the London 2012 Paralympics.

"The fencers know that this is an important step but also know that there is a lot of hard work still to do to earn their own place on the team and to be the best prepared they can be in just under 300 days time."

Richard Callicott, the chair of GB Volleyball, was philosophical, saying: "Whilst we are disappointed not to be given the green light by the BPA at this stage, the players know that it's not a 'no' and are all determined to keep going to achieve their goal of competing at London 2012."

Mike Reilly, the chief executive of Goalball UK, was similarly understanding of the BPA announcement: "We appreciate that the decision has been deferred to give us further time to develop towards credible performance.

"I'm sure all the athletes understand that to compete at a home Games is a huge honour and they are determined to get there."

Neither Britain's men's or women's teams qualified for the Goalball competition at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, while the 2012 Games will be the first time any British sitting volleyball team will compete at the Paralympics after the men's team had their host nation spot confirmed in September.

The decision on whether to take up the host country slots for men's and women's Goalball teams, as well as the women's sitting volleyball squad, will be made in February 2012.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]