(Ottawa, October, 7 2006) Canadian athletes won another 8 matches today, the second day of individual competition at the 2006 Boccia World Championships, being held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Paralympic gold medalist, Paul Gauthier of Vancouver, BC won two more games and is sitting atop his pool in the BC3 category. Alison Kabush of Surrey, BC and Monica Martino of Vancouver, BC are also undefeated, easily winning their respective games. “Today was a fantastic day. I played very well”, said Kabush. “I am presently tied for first in my pool and I play against a Chinese athlete tomorrow. The winner of that game will be alone in first place”.
In the BC2 category, rookie team member Nathan Moss of Victoria, BC rebounded with two wins today after two difficult losses yesterday. He has now completed his round robin competition and will have to wait and see if he advances to the next round. National team veteran Tammy McLeod of London, ON continued her nice play with a 4-3 victory against Tomas Kral of Slovakia. Fellow Canadian Adam Dukovich of London, ON won his first game easily defeating Angel Acosta Flores, of Mexico, 8-4.
In the BC1 category Hanif Mawji of Burnaby, BC scored 6 points in the second end and won 7-3 against Jaesuk Park of South Korea. Fellow Canadian David Van Hoek of London, ON lost his second game of the tournament. Finally in the BC4 category both Canadian athletes had difficult days, as Jonathan Poulin of Montreal and Josh Vander Vies of Sarnia, ON, lost their games. Poulin lost 3-2 in extra ends against Jose Maria Dueso Villar of Spain. Vander Vies lost 5-1 against Vivian Wai Yan Lau, of Hong Kong, ranked 7th in the world.
Boccia is a Paralympic sport open to athletes with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke or similar non-progressive conditions. All competitors compete in wheelchairs and some are permitted to use assistive devices (usually a ramp or chute to aid in throwing the ball). Only athletes with a severe disability are eligible to compete in boccia.
The Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (CCPSA) is an athlete focused national organization administering and governing sport opportunities targeted to athletes with CP and related disabilities. CCPSA and its provincial partners cooperate as a proactive force to facilitate the development of equitable and fair sporting opportunities for our athletes.
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For more information
Dominique Tremblay
CCPSA
(613) 748-1430
(819) 360-6333
Dominique@ccpsa.ca
