Invictus Games: Round-up of day five as sitting volleyball is served up
Table Tennis singles were competed today at the Invictus Games and the final team sport is well underway with the sitting volleyball pool matches taking place in the Murker Spiel-Arena.
Sitting Volleyball has become a signature sport of these Games, with the UK boasting a rich history in the competition but they have only won it once in the first Invictus year of 2014.
Since then, it has been won by the US, Georgia and last year's champions Poland.
Team UK so far has played two pool matches and won both convincingly against Team Unconquered and Team France.
Their quarter-final match will be tomorrow morning at 08:00 GMT.
Sitting volleyball is one of the most successful and most popular competitive and recreational sports of this event.
It can be played together by athletes with and without impairments. Similar to the other team events like wheelchair basketball and rugby it's played as a mixed-gender event.
Charlie Holford is the Team UK Sitting volleyball captain, he told Forces News: "Our team for the volleyball is mega. So it's just a really friendly, happy, everyone gets on really well.
"I just want everyone to go out there and have fun and enjoy it, and enjoy the Invictus spirit because that's what it is all about just going out and enjoying it, playing well, obviously, but having fun out there."
'In my wildest dreams, I never thought that it would be possible'
Elsewhere, it was an incredible day in the pool yesterday for Team UK
Richard Davies bagged himself four golds - the former RAF corporal suffered a life-changing injury to his left foot in 2019 and after years of pain and complications, he made the hard decision to have it amputated in 2021.
He told Forces News, "I was actually out chasing PBs, I didn't mind where I place or anything, but to walk away with four gold, in my wildest dreams, I never thought that it would be possible.
"Something happened on the day, seeing my family in the crowd, and the support of the team behind the scenes that spurred me on."
Richard will be competing in archery on Friday and Saturday, with the Sitting Volleyball finals and the cycling also taking place tomorrow.
Team UK
Fifty-nine competitors are representing Team UK at the Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023.
The team is made up of veterans and serving personnel from the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
The Invictus Games is an international multi-sport event that was launched in 2014 by the Duke of Sussex.
The adaptive event is aimed at wounded, injured or sick Armed Forces personnel and veterans, and it takes its name from the Latin word 'Invictus', meaning 'unconquered' or 'undefeated'.
Forces News will be bringing you all the latest news from the Invictus Games throughout the week.
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