The 9th Boccia National Championship, a premier paralympic sporting contest, concluded at the Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone (AMTZ) in city on Wednesday.
The event marks the first-ever national-level parasports championship in Visakhapatnam, bringing together over 100 para-athletes from 21 States across the country. The para-athletes demonstrated extraordinary skills in quarterfinals, semifinals, and also doubles matches. Winners from these games will now represent India in international games. Participants with disabilities such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy dominated the event.
Boccia is a paralympic precision ball sport tailored for individuals with severe physical disabilities. It is a game of strategy, focus, and precision. Players aim to throw leather balls as close as possible to a white target ball, known as the jack.
“I used to be bedridden until the age of 19, with no interest in anything in my life. Later, in 2022, I was taken to Delhi, where I was introduced to boccia. After just two days of practice, I participated in the National Boccia Championship. I practiced day and night, and eventually won a bronze medal,” said 21-year-old Ravinder Kumar from Bikaner in Rajasthan, who has cerebral palsy. Ravinder won a gold medal at the Boccia Championship held at AMTZ.
“I learned about boccia few weeks ago, and I came to Visakhapatnam. When I tried the sport, I realised how life changing it is. We have limited opportunities for physical activity due to our conditions, but boccia is perfect for us. It combines physical and mental exercises, strategy, and the excitement of any sport,” said a 46-year-old maiden participant from Gulmarg in Kashmir.
The AMTZ has been a supporter of the Boccia Federation since sometime, empowering para-athletes to compete nationally and internationally. AMTZ managing director and founder-chief executive officer, Dr. Jitendra Sharma, highlighted the transformative power of organising such a championship
“Boccia serves as a valuable game for individuals with severe disabilities, promoting physical health and enhancing quality of life. AMTZ is always committed to not just saving lives, but also empowering the abilities of persons with disabilities,” he said.
This commitment to inclusion extends beyond boccia. AMTZ is also supporting other parasports, including wheelchair basketball, with a major championship scheduled to take place next month in the Medtech Zone, he added.
Published – January 15, 2025 07:34 pm IST
