Team Thailand bowl over Boccia rivals
A dominant Thailand lived up to their reputation as the team to watch on the second day of Boccia action as they eased into the gold medal decider in the Mixed Team-BC1-2 class.
The aim of Boccia is to throw leather balls as close as possible to a white target ball.
The Thais, ranked second in the world, produced a superb display to claim an impressive 18-1 victory over hosts and defending champions Great Britain in Monday’s semi-final.
Having started the day with an 11-1 victory over Brazil in the last eight, the team of Witsanu Huadpradit, Mongkol Jitsa-Ngiem, Pattaya Tadtong and Watcharaphon Vongsa then delivered a message of intent against the hosts in London.
China were the surprise opponents for Thailand in the final (due late last night), after the No 7-ranked team followed victory over South Korea with a 6-4 comeback win against Portugal.
Elsewhere, impressive Brazilian pair Eliseu Dos Santos and Dirceu Pinto were made to work hard by GB hopefuls Stephen McGuire and Peter McGuire before triumphing 3-2 in the Mixed Pairs-BC4 class.
They will now face the Czech Republic in the gold-medal decider, after the team of Radek Prochazka and Leos Lacina fought back and won a tie-break to overcome Canada.
In the Mixed Pairs-BC3 class, Greece overpowered Belgium 7-0.
They will face Portugal, who edged out South Korea 4-3 in the second semi-final.
Elsewhere, in shooting, Phiraphong Buengbok and Mala Sihabandit missed out on the final of the mixed R6-50M Rifle Prone-SH11 after they fired 580 and 575 to finish 27th and 37th respectively yesterday.
