ParalympicsGB has today named the four boccia athletes set to represent Britain at this summer’s Paralympic Games, which marks the 98th, 99th, 100th and 101st British athletes so far selected for the Beijing Games.
The four-strong team to represent Britain in the BC1 and BC2 categories at the Games is Paralympic gold medallist Nigel Murray along with Games debutants Zoe Robinson, Dan Bentley and David Smith.
Zoe Robinson, was among the team that took gold at the Vancouver Boccia World Cup in 2007 to book GB’s place at the Paralympics.
For 18-year-old Robinson from Bury, this will be the first time she travels to the Paralympics.
Boccia Team Manager, Jacqueline Lynn, said: “Great Britain Boccia is delighted to announce their strong team of four for the Beijing Paralympics. Following a very tough selection process, Murray, Smith, Robinson and Bentley gained the places for the BC1/ BC2 Team.
“The team are currently ranked No.1 in the world within this category so we have the target of winning a team medal in Beijing.
“Final preparations are now in place as we head towards Beijing. Training plans and programmes are being finalised and the athletes will attend their final international competition in July in Wigan where we will compete against 10 of the top countries in the world.
“This is a strong talented team with future ambitions for 2012 but all eyes are now focused on Beijing.”
ParalympicsGB Chief Executive Phil Lane, said: “It is fantastic to be able to name a squad for boccia that includes such highly ranked competitors going into the Games. The fact that three of the four will be making their Games debuts in Beijing shows the growth of the sport over the last four years.
“We have a great chance to medal with this team in Beijing.”
The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games opens on September 6 and closes on September 17. The boccia events at the Games take place at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Gymnastics from September 7 to 12.
At the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games Britain finished second in the medal table with a total of 35 golds, 30 silver and 29 bronze medals. With competitive standards continually rising and the dominant Chinese team taking the home advantage ParalympicsGB recognises that the 2008 Paralympics will be one of its biggest challenges yet.
For further information about ParalympicsGB, please contact Sian Davies in the Press Office on 0207 211 5240 or 07721 892686 or by email at [email protected]. For news updates visit the BPA website at www.paralympics.org.uk
N.B ParalympicsGB is the trading name of the British Paralympic Association.
The boccia squad selected for Beijing is:
Name Born Lives Place of Birth
Daniel Bentley 15/08/1984 Great Dunmow Chelmsford
Nigel Murray 22/05/1964 Leamington Spa Leamington Spa
Zoe Robinson 30/11/1989 Bury, Lancs Bury, Lancs
David Smith 02/03/1989 Eastleigh, Hants Southampton
