Boccia player subject to violence by his coach?
Last week, Ji Kwang-min, captain of the national Boccia team, alleged Kim Jin-han abused him during the Paralympics as well as before the event, saying the coach also took money from him for training sessions.
Jang said the degree of violence may not have been extreme as Ji and Kim have known each other as teacher and student since the Boccia player was in high school, but it still cannot be tolerated, noting the pair looked friendly in London.
Boccia Australia highlight a GB Boccia player
Paralympian Jess Hunter from Great Britain came into the Channel 4 News studio to give a boccia demonstration. Presenter Jon Snow and Sports Reporter Keme Znzerem also have a go!
via Boccia Australia.
Disability won’t stop Boccia player following his dream
Mikey, as his friends know him, goes surfing in Lahinch, produces a radio programme, studies in Mary I, started a poetry group in Enable Ireland in Mungret, plays Boccia, is on Bridge Celtic’s AFC committee, loves to travel and is planning a mountain biking trip.
Last weekend he was a guest of President Michael D Higgins at a Being Young and Irish Workshop in Cork.
“My disability doesn’t stop what I do. I try and be as independent as I can be and education is a top priority.
“My motto is ‘I can and I will’ and no matter who you are or what your
via Disability won’t stop Limerick man following his dream – Community News – Limerick Leader.
Boccia: A Hidden Gem
Before the London 2012 Paralympic Games, I knew little of the sport boccia (pronounced bo-ch-a). I hadn’t heard of Great Britain captain Nigel Murray, twice a gold medal winner in the sport, nor of his Beijing team mates Dan Bentley, Zoe Robinson and David Smith, all international class players.
However, after a week watching the sport at ExCeL, a giant exhibition centre in the heart of the London docklands, I had discovered an absolute gem of a sport, one packed with tension and excitement, where a match can be won or lost by millimetres.
On the face of it, boccia is crown green bowls, with competitors in wheelchairs throwing or kicking their balls as close to a jack as possible on a 12.5 x 6 metre flat, smooth hard-court. Only there’s so much more to it than that.
To begin with, competitors are all disabled and split into four classifications. BC1, BC2 and BC3 classifications are for athletes with cerebral palsy, whilst BC4 is for competitors with motor skills disabilities affecting their movement.
Hoping to use Paralympic experience to support Boccia
THE woman behind the new parallel sports club in Wincanton hopes to use her experience as an inspiration for disabled youngsters.
Amy Coombes, 23, recently returned from the trip of a lifetime after being a technical adviser in Boccia at the Paralympic Games.
The selfless volunteer has now set her sights on making the parallel sports club, to be launched at Wincanton Sports Ground next month, a hub for future Paralympians.
Miss Coombes became interested in disabled sports while studying sports education and coaching at the University of Gloucestershire.
It was there that she was first introduced to Boccia and after undertaking regional and national referees courses in the sport, she started working with Boccia England.
Her enthusiasm led her to be eventually fast-tracked to be a technical adviser at the Paralympics.
She said: “The people I have met through Boccia are a great bunch of people and the athletes all work hard to achieve their greatest potential, many with very severe disabilities.
“The camaraderie is fantastic and I consider it a privilege to be able to work with these outstanding athletes.
“I feel very honoured and privileged to have been part of Boccia at the Paralympics. The athletes were exceptional and all worked so hard to achieve their best.
“It is wonderful to see the determination they have to overcome their disabilities and to achieve their best. I would not have missed it for the world.”
via Hoping to use Paralympic experience as an inspiration | This is Somerset.
Boccia heroes receive cash rewards
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has welcomed home the paralympic athletes and presented them with bonuses in cash.
A grand reception was held to welcome the Thai paralympic team, who bagged the country four gold, two silver, and two bronze medals from the London 2012 Paralympics.
The premier presented the rewards to the athletes. Those who won the gold received six million baht each, silver winners got four million, and bronze medalists received 2 million baht.
Four gold medals belonged to the boccia team, who won in both the team and the single categories, a table tennis player, and a wheelchair fencer. The wheelchair racing team brought home two silvers and two bronzes.
Interview with Boccia Athlete Peter McGuire
His Sport: Boccia
Born: 24/10/82
Lives: Hamilton, Scotland
Peter got into Boccia through his younger brother Stephen, who is also part of the GB squad. The brothers play against each other in the individual competitions but team up for the pair events. At his first major international championships – the 2006 World Championships – he came 7th in the pairs and 9th in the individual competition.
Where now for Boccia after the fanfare?
Boccia player Nurulasyiqah Mohd Taha echoed his sentiments and called for efforts to ensure that Paralympians get the best equipment which are also customised to their personal needs. In her case, it was the ramp used to launch the balls.
Nurulasyiqah explained: “The Koreans use a very good ramp made of solid wood, but it is difficult for me to use it because I cannot bend. I need something transparent.
“These are things that we need to innovate on. Just because the Koreans are the best and they use a ramp doesn’t mean that their ramp will suit me.”
She added that there is a lack of awareness here for such needs and it is an issue that needs to be addressed.
Nurulasyiqah also noted that more boccia trainers are needed to cater to the growing number of players. There are currently only two boccia coaches in the fraternity.
via TODAYonline | Sports | Eyeing the future, after the fanfare.
Paralympians light up airport with gold haul
Thailand’s Paralympic athletes returned home from the 14th Games in London to a hero’s welcome yesterday after making a big impact, capturing four gold, two silver and two bronze medals to finish 31st overall.
Of the 4,294 athletes from 164 countries taking part in London, Thailand sent 50 (39 men and 11 women) to compete in 10 sports. Their initial target was two gold medals.
Rungroj Thainiyom ignited Thai pride by handing the country its first gold, winning the men’s individual table tennis title.
The other gold medals came from the four-man boccia team led by Pattaya Tadtong, and fencer Saysunee Jana in the women’s individual epee. Pattaya went out with a bang after winning his second gold, in the men’s individual boccia a few days before the Thais’ return home.
The Thai athletes were greeted at 3pm yesterday at Suvarnbhumi Airport by Sombat Kuruphan, assistant minister for tourism and sports, Sports Authority of Thailand governor Kanokpan Jullakasem, Thai Paralympic Committee Foundation chairman Jutinan Bhirombhakdi, their families and a large crowd of fans, who cheered and waved Thai flags. Bouquets of flowers were presented to athletes, some of whom were reduced to tears by the emotion.
via Paralympians light up airport with gold haul – The Nation.
Muslimah Paralympians
Last week I was in London, moonlighting as a cheerleader. My sister, Nurulasyiqah, represented Singapore in boccia for the first time ever, and I was absolutely excited to see her play in the Paralympics.
In between matches, a friend remarked:
“You know, your sister looks like such a good Muslim.”
In Islamic discourses, disabled people are generally portrayed as being “special” or closer to God, but also “imperfect.”…………… (click link below for the full article)………….
And how did my sister fare? She almost made it to the semi-finals, but narrowly lost a tie-breaker with Korea. But she’s happy. Success is not always a gold medal, because inshallah she represents possibilities for all boccia athletes in Singapore, and especially Malay Muslim para-athletes.
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