PAUL Akers from Alconbury got to the final of the Disability Sports Events Open Boccia Championships in Sheffield at the weekend – and won a silver medal in the BC2 class.
Boccia is a precision ball throwing sport which is competed at both national and international levels by athletes who require a wheelchair because of their physical disability. And, against a strong field of players, including Great Britain and England internationals, Akers, 29, who has cerebral palsy, beat some of the top players in the country to reach the final at The Institute of Sport in the city.
He won 6-0 in the first round, 7-0 in the quarter finals, and 7-0 in the semi. He was eventually beaten by GB player Joshua Rowe 7-1.
Camboccia Coach Shaun McCormick said: “Paul has only been involved in boccia for six months and his dedication is second to none. He has his own boccia balls – which cost �380 – and practices every day, travelling the 50-mile round journey to every Camboccia session.
“We could see Paul in the next Paralympics.”
Camboccia are planning to set up a club in Peterborough in the near future and anyone interested in learning more about the sport should contact McCormick at shaun@camboccia.co.uk
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