Gaz Choudhry

{{short description|British wheelchair basketball player|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox sportsperson | headercolor = lightblue | name = Gaz Choudry | honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} | image = | image_size =  | caption = | birth_name = Gaz Choudhry | fullname = | nickname = | nationality = {{GBR}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|6|23|df=yes}} | birth_place = Karachi, Pakistan | death_date = | death_place = | height =  | weight =  | website =  | country = Great Britain | sport = Wheelchair basketball | event = Men's team | collegeteam = | club = Capital City Aces | team = Bulldogs | turnedpro = | coach = | retired = | coaching = | worlds = | regionals = | nationals = | olympics = | paralympics = | highestranking = | pb = | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{GBR2}}}} {{MedalCompetition|Paralympic Games}} {{MedalSport|Wheelchair basketball}} {{MedalBronze|2016 Rio|Team BC1-2}} {{MedalBronze|2020 Tokyo|Team BC1–2}} }} '''Gaz Choudhry''' {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (born 23 June 1985) is a British former wheelchair basketball player. He was selected to play for Paralympics GB in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London.<ref name="GB Paralympics"/>

==Personal life== Choudhry was born on 23 June 1985 in Karachi, Pakistan.<ref name="GB Paralympics">{{cite web|url=http://www.paralympics.org.uk/gb/athletes/gaz-choudhry|title=Gaz Choudhry|publisher=British Paralympic Association|accessdate=20 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818230052/http://www.paralympics.org.uk/gb/athletes/gaz-choudhry|archive-date=18 August 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was made an amputee (body extremity was removed due to trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery) when he was ten years old.<ref name="GBWBA"/> He moved to Ealing in London with his family when he was thirteen, and attended Walford High School.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/ealing-news/2012-olympics/2012/06/08/i-ll-do-ealing-proud-says-wheelchair-basketball-olympics-hopeful-64767-31143823/ |title=I'll do Ealing proud says wheelchair basketball Olympics hopeful |work=Ealing Gazette|accessdate=2013-07-25}}</ref>

==Wheelchair basketball== Choudhry began playing wheelchair basketball at the age of thirteen, after seeing a roadshow from the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association. Since then, he has been involved in the sport. He is a class 4.0 wheelchair basketball player.<ref name="GBWBA">{{cite web|url=http://www.gbwba.org.uk/gbwba/index.cfm/gb-teams/gb-players/gb-men/great-britain-mens-wheelchair-basketball-player-gaz-choudhry/|title=Gaz Choudhry|publisher=GBWBA|accessdate=20 August 2012}}</ref> When he competed at a young age, he represented Great Britain in many international tournaments. He won two gold and silver medals at a young age. He was chosen in the All Star team for the European Championships in Adana, southern Turkey.<ref name="GB Paralympics"/>

In 2008, Choudhry was chosen as a reserve for the 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, held in Beijing. Recently before that he had moved to play for a team in Porto Torres, Italy. Choudhry has only competed in two major championships, other than being a reserve (substitute) in the Beijing Paralympics of 2008. His first major championship was the 2010 World Wheelchair Basketball Championship.<ref name="GB Paralympics"/><ref name="GBWBA"/> This championship was held in Birmingham. Along with his team, Choudhry finished in fifth place; out of the medals. However, in 2011, he participated in the 2011 European Championships which were held in Nazareth, northern Israel. This championship was a victory for Great Britain, the team which Choudhry was playing in the championship. He won a gold medal.<ref name="GB Paralympics"/><ref name="GBWBA"/><ref name="Sheffield">{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofsport2012.co.uk/athletes/Gaz-Choudhry-|title=Gaz Choudhry|publisher=Sheffield City of Sport|accessdate=20 August 2012}}</ref>

He was part of the Great Britain wheelchair basketball side at the 2012 London Paralympics, and for the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 tournaments, the latter two of which ended in the team winning the bronze medal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wheelchair basketball Rio 2016 wrap-up |url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/wheelchair-basketball-rio-2016-wrap |website=International Paralympic Committee |access-date=15 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tokyo Paralympics: Great Britain finish Games with two more bronze medals |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/58452548 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=15 August 2022}}</ref>

Choudhry was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 Birthday Honours for services to wheelchair basketball.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=63714|supp=y|page=B18|date=1 June 2022}}</ref>

==Acting== Choudhry made his acting debut in the Apple TV+ anthology series ''Extrapolations''.<ref>[https://www.apple.com/ca/tv-pr/originals/extrapolations/cast-crew/ Extrapolations Cast & Crew]</ref>

==References== {{reflist}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Choudhry, Gaz}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:British men's wheelchair basketball players Category:Pakistani emigrants to the United Kingdom Category:Sportspeople from Karachi Category:British people of Pakistani descent Category:Sportspeople of Pakistani descent Category:Basketball players from London Category:Paralympic medalists in wheelchair basketball Category:Wheelchair basketball players at the 2016 Summer Paralympics Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Paralympics Category:Wheelchair basketball players at the 2020 Summer Paralympics Category:Medalists at the 2020 Summer Paralympics Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire Category:Paralympic bronze medalists for Great Britain Category:21st-century British sportsmen