Sealy relishing Italian Job before London 2012 campaign

By Ben Baker, Sportsbeat

WHEELCHAIR basketball player Matt Sealy is heading to the Eternal City to hone his skills ahead of the 2012 Paralympics.

GOING ROME-ING: Great Britain's Matt Sealy is heading to Italy for a season to hone his skills ahead of Great Britain's London 2012 Paralympic campaign (Action Images)

The 28-year-old has swapped Buckinghamshire for the Italian capital, leaving the MK Aces to join Roma for a year, having impressed in Great Britain's march to Paralympic World Cup gold in May.

That prompted lofty expectations of further gold at July's World Championships in Birmingham but a shock defeat to France ensured the best Great Britain could manage was a disappointing fifth place.

And while Sealy admitted missing out on a world medal on home soil was a bitter pill, he is adamant they will put things right before the Paralympic torch lights up London.

He said: "We were disappointed with what happened at the worlds in Birmingham and it was a disappointing way to finish the year because we were expecting better.

"We had spent all the build-up to it preparing to play the best teams in the world and trying to be good enough to win the gold.

"It shows you can't take your eye off anyone because the whole of Europe is improving vastly.

"I think we will be looking to go for gold at the Paralympics and I think that is realistic, we just need to make sure we don't get caught out like we did at the World Championships.

"There's not a great deal of time left until London 2012 and we've got a big squad - we just have to make sure we don't get caught cold again."