Last Updated on: 8th July 2021, 05:12 pm
Reigning World and Paralympic Champion David Smith has been named to the ParalympicsGB pétanque team for rescheduling at Tokyo 2020.
Smith, 32, the best-decorated British bocce player with retired Nigel Murray, leads a nine-person squad and aims to expand his treasure trove of four medals in three games.
“I don’t think too much about the joint record,” Smith said. “I’m more interested in playing well and winning. With bronze, I could beat the common record, but my focus is on gold.”
“It’s crazy to think this will be my fourth game and I’m only 32 yet. It’s exciting because there is so much more.”
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Smith is supported by six returning Paralympians: Claire Taggart, brothers Jamie and Scott McCowan, Evie Edwards and Stephen McGuire. The youngest member of the team, Louis Saunders, 19, Beth Moulam, and Will Hipwell will make their debut at the Tokyo Paralympic Games.
Saunders said, “It was wonderful sharing the news with my family, who have supported me so much.”
“They even made me transform my living room into a mini-pétanque court while I was in detention. You look forward to supporting me and the team from your home this summer.”
Huge congratulations to our eight Para triathletes who are on the plane to Tokyo 2020!#ImpossibleToIgnore
— ParalympicsGB (@ParalympicsGB) July 8, 2021
ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission Penny Briscoe added: “The nine athletes have shown extraordinary strength and determination since the start of the COVID pandemic last year and I look forward to seeing this which they can achieve at Tokyo Bowling Alley this summer.”
Boccia, a precision sport related to bowling and petanque and very similar to curling, became a Paralympic sport in 1984 and includes individual, pair, and team games.
A total of around 230 athletes from 19 different sports are expected for the UK Paralympic Games in Tokyo from August 24 to September 5.
