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Thailand excels in 1st Fazza International Boccia Competition

DUBAI- Boccia veterans Thailand emerged victorious on Day 3 of the 1^st Fazza International Boccia Competition organised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC) and hosted by the Dubai Club for the Disabled with four gold medals in the BC1, BC2, BC3 and BC4 categories.

Portugal, another strong contender to win in the singles category walked away with three medals. The tournament is being held at the Dubai Club for the Disabled in Al Qusais.

The tournament is hosting 41 players from across eight countries – including the UAE, Iraq, Thailand, Malaysia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Tunisia and Portugal. 15 highly qualified judges from Tunisia, Malaysia, Portugal and the UAE oversaw the games and ensured that internationally accredited laws were applied to the Championship.

Surasit Thongchan, director of Paralympic Committee of Thailand, who is accompanying the Thai delegation said: “Boccia has been practised in Thailand for nearly 20 years and individual players have won gold at the London Paralympic Games in 2012, so we come with skill and experience. The team has been training hard for the Paralympic Games in Incheon later this year and this platform allows them to compete with athletes from other countries.”

Christina Goncalves, a contestant from Portugal who won silver in the BC2 category has been playing Boccia since 1998 and is looking forward to growing Portugal’s international medal tally. She has won no less than six medals from various international tournaments.

Thani Juma Berregad, chairman of the Dubai Club for the Disabled and head of the organising committee for the Fazza Championships for the Disabled added: “We are pleased with the level of the tournament. The president of the IPC Sir Philip Craven has commended the role that UAE has played in the field of developing and supporting all sports for the disabled locally, regionally and internationally.

“One of the reasons why the Championships have gone international is because Dubai is growing as a regional center for sporting excellence with the support of the Dubai Sports Council and we are pleased to host what will be another very successful tournament under the Fazza umbrella.”

Souad Darwish, Director of Championships added: “The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center has always supported sports for the disabled and this first edition of the tournament has seen some very professional performances from visiting teams.

“It has built Dubai’s repute as an inclusive city and we want to express the hospitality of the host country and its ability to manage sporting events of this magnitude.”

Results

BC 1

Gold – Pattaya Tadtong – Thailand

Silver – Joao Paulo Fernandes – Portugal

Bronze – Mohammed Fadhel – Iraq

BC 2

Gold – Watcharaporn Vongsa – Thailand

Silver – Christina Goncalves – Portugal

Bronze – Abilio Manuel Valente – Portugal

BC3

Gold – Tanimpat Visaratanunta – Thailand

Silver – Haza Fouad – Iraq