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1st Singapore Boccia Invitational Open closes with sweep by Hong Kong

By Kee Aera

I stepped into the Sports Hall, expecting it to be filled with cheers from the crowd as well as lots of noise from the competition itself. However, as I went to the audience area, I was surprised to find the Hall completely silent except for the thumping of the balls on the ground.

Many people still do not know about Boccia, a sport for severely disabled athletes. It might not be as ‘motion-packed’ as watching World Cup, or a Wimbledon tennis match, but it certainly is a mind-boggling and exciting one.

The championship held from 20th to 22nd July was the first Singapore Boccia Invitational Open, which also saw competitors coming from Japan, Hong Kong and Malaysia. There were 6 ongoing matches each time on the courts. Some athletes could throw the ball using their hands or their foot, whilst the others had to use a device such as a ramp to roll the ball down.

Boccia is a sport that demands more of your mental concentration rather than physical. As the games started, all the athletes were focusing entirely on the courts. Eyeing for the white ball called the jack ball, some of them swung their balls back and front, adjusting the right amount of energy to throw the ball in such a way that it lands near the white ball. Some ‘smashed’ their balls down the ground, causing the balls to halt abruptly near their target, whereas the others threw their balls underarm, allowing the ball to roll a distance before stopping near the white ball. Their different skills and techniques were definitely interesting and I watched the matches with much admiration. All the athletes had great precision and accuracy in terms of landing their balls very near to the white ball and they used techniques to win their opponents. There were times when they managed to push the opponents’ balls ‘out’, allowing them to get near to the white ball and causing the opponent to lose his ball at the same time.

Out of the competitors from the four different countries, I realised that Hong Kong had sent strong players, winning many matches. Leung Mei Yee from Hong Kong won Lean Chin Kit from Malaysia with 6:2 and John Loung, also from Hong Kong, won Lee Chee Hoong from Malaysia with 3:1. Some of these Hong Kong players competed against players from their own country, resulting in intense games, such as Cheung Chun Ping and Tse Mun King who ended their game with a draw.

Our very own Singapore team also had many strong players, such as Kevin Lee Yue Hong (in photo). He fought hard with Ikuko Arai from Japan, displaying great sportsmanship. As they had severe physical disabilities, they had to use a ramp, accompanied by ramp assistants. Using body language, eye contact and words, they instructed their assistants in the adjustment of their ramps. It was very surprising that just by adjusting their ramps, they knew how to vary their strengths and used their great skills and techniques to launch the ball as near to their target as possible.

This competition has certainly marked a significant progress for Boccia. Nurulasyiqah Binte Mohammad Taha, a Singaporean Boccia athlete, commented that she is passionate about Boccia and hopes that this competition marks the start of more upcoming Boccia games. She points out that competitions allow them to show their talent and give them the opportunity to play with other foreign competitors as the Singaporean athletes usually get to train and play among themselves. These competitions allow them to exchange their skills and techniques in playing Boccia and to make new friends with the athletes from other countries. It is not just about winning, but also about the experience that causes such competitions to be much more meaningful and significant to the disabled athletes.

Their perseverance and determination is remarkable, despite their physical disabilities and there are people who are willing to help these athletes make a difference, fulfilling their dreams by assisting these athletes in any means.

By volunteering, we can make a difference to someone and to our own in meaningful ways. After all, as Dr Amy Khor, the Guest-of-Honour, quotes, “Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us daily”. We should give our support to the disabled athletes not only because we CAN, but because we CARE.

Results of 1st Singapore Boccia Invitational Open 2007-07-30

Individual (BC1)
1st – Leung Mei Yee (HK)
2nd – Cheung Chun Ping (HK)
3rd – Tse Mun King (HK)

Individual (BC2)
1st – John Loung (HK)
2nd – Shum Wai San (HK)
3rd – Kwok Hoi Ying (HK)

Individual (BC3)
1st – Lee Yue Hong (SIN)
2nd – Arai Ikuko (JPN)
3rd – Hui Hung Pan (HK)

Individual (BC4)
1st – Leung Yuk Wing (HK)
2nd – Cheung Man Yee (HK)
3rd – Wong Po Yau (HK)

Pairs (BC3)
1st – Tsang Ling Yan & Hui Hung Pan (HK)
2nd – Arai Ikuko & Tanaka Keiko (JPN)
3rd – Kayukome Toshiyuki & Nakagawa Naoki (JPN)

Pairs (BC4)
1st – Leung Yui Wing, Wong Po Yau & Cheung Man Yee (HK)
2nd – Hakamada Izumi & Nahukkarasu Sumasundram (JPN)
3rd – Oh Boon Keng & Tay Yong Seng (SIN)

Team (BC 1 & 2)
1st – Leung Mei Yee, Cheung Chun Ping & Shum Wai San (HK)
2nd – Akimoto Taemi, Hongu Takashi & Kotani Tomonori (JPN)
3rd – Goh Ta Lang, Tan Yee Ting & Tse Mun King (SIN)