The growing breadth and diversity of talent in boccia was once again the major theme of the pairs and team competition events at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Out with the old. In with the new.
Eight different nations made the podium in the pairs and team events, as they shared the nine medals contested – reflecting the growing strength of the sport around the world, witnessed in the individual events.
Hong Kong China were the most successful nation in the pairs and teams events, winning gold in the BC3 mixed pairs and silver in the BC4 mixed pairs.
That enabled Hong Kong China to top the overall medal table for boccia at Paris 2024, with a total of five medals – three gold and two silver.
The People’s Republic of China finished second with two golds, whilst the Republic of Korea ended third with one gold, three silver and one bronze for a total of five medals in all.
In all, 15 different countries won medals across the events, up from 13 at Tokyo 2020.
Of the eight medals won in Paris by Hong King China across all sports, more than half of them (five) have come in boccia.
Their final medal came on the last day of competition when Yuen Kei Ho and Tak Wah Tse combined to win their country’s third gold in the BC3 mixed pairs.
Indonesia arrived in Paris as a nation that had never competed in boccia at a Paralympic Games before, but went home with four medals – two silver and two bronze, the third biggest tally of any country.
The sport continues to inspire, enthrall and entertain, as the athletes and supporters inside the venue at the South Paris Arena combined to create a vibrant atmosphere.
New heroes emerged. Old champions were dethroned.
But through all the change and global growth, the impact of the sport remains as strong for the individual as ever, summed up by Nuanchan Phonsila of Thailand, a bronze medal winner in the BC4 mixed pairs.
“Boccia is a friend with whom I share a strong bond,” she said.
“And that’s only the first part of the important place it holds in my life. To me, it has also been a gateway to opportunities and to meet new people around the world.
“It’s also my job and a duty I shoulder with pride towards my country as a national athlete of Thailand. Boccia has empowered me.”
Thailand finished fifth in the boccia medal table, just one place behind Colombia, suggesting if there is a shift in the balance of power in the sport, it is from Europe towards Asia.
Slovakia had topped the table in Tokyo 2020, with Great Britain and the Czech Republic in joint fourth place.
This time, in Paris, four of the top five nations were from Asia, with France, Great Britain and Portugal in joint sixth.
Colombia, in fourth, may have contributed the family story of Paris 2024, however, through brother and sister, Leidy and Edilson Chica Chica.
They managed to complete a family set in Paris of gold, silver and bronze after finishing on top of the BC4 mixed pairs podium on Thursday, the final day of competition.
After Edilson claimed silver in the men’s individual BC4 event and Leidy took bronze in the women’s BC4 earlier this week, the Chica Chica brother-and-sister team defeated Hong Kong China 6-1 in the mixed pairs BC4 gold medal match.
“Among us four siblings, we are the only two with physical impairments and, age-wise, we are the oldest and youngest of the lot,” Leidy said.
“Our family, as a whole, have gone through a lot of struggles. To taste this victory together as siblings and be crowned Paralympic champions… it’s incredible, simply incredible.”
