Paris 2024 Flash Quotes: Boccia

Comments from ParalympicsGB athletes following this evening’s session.

Claire Taggart

Result: Lost 4-3 to Cristina Goncalves (Portugal) in the Women’s BC2 individual preliminary. She had already qualified for the quarterfinal. Taggart will play Yeung Hiu Lam (Hong Kong) in the quarter final on Saturday at 19:35 (CET).

Age: 29

Hometown: Larne, County Antrim

On the match:

“A little disappointed with how I played. Obviously I lost to Cristina earlier this year in Povoa, the last tournament before we came here, so she’s playing really well at the minute. She has been around the game for so long and its really nice to see her back at really good form.”

On the group:

“I wanted to top the group and a little disappointing that I haven’t done that, but I have to think about the positives of being here and getting my first win yesterday and running that game so tight. I had the opportunity to take it to a tie break in the last end and didn’t manage to get the third point. It was a really good game and looks more promising for tomorrow.”

On the win yesterday and confidence going into the next round:

“I’m just taking each game as it comes. I have definitely struggled with the number one being on my leg and being just a target and I think boccia is one of those games that proves you could beat anybody on the day. No matter what the ranking list says, strange things happen and that’s why it is so exciting. It’s a fantastic sport.”

William Arnott

Result: Beat Karabo Morapedi (South Africa) 7-1 in the Men’s BC3 individual preliminary. Arnott will play Daniel Michel (Australia) in the final preliminary match on Saturday at 17:00 (CET).

Age: 25

Hometown: Reading

On performance:

“There are always ways to improve, but it’s definitely a better result than yesterday. It means my job is quite simple tomorrow: win the game and I’m through to the next round and that’s the target. I felt that I ruined the game a bit, probably similar to the game yesterday, I’ll have to start quicker tomorrow if I want to come away with the right result. I’ve given myself the opportunity now, just got to actually make it happen.”

On the strength of the win:

“I’m looking forward to the game tomorrow now. Really good to have more friends and family here for that game now. Definitely helped to build the atmosphere. I think the game tomorrow’s atmosphere will be great with both of us having quite large crowds with us. I think it will be a really good game. Looking forward to it.”

On the second end:

“Before this event I was struggling with my own jack ball, I was struggling with winning ends on there. I think I went through a phase of losing ten ends on my side so to come out of that and start playing alright on my side and start to put the pressure on because then all I’ve got to do is win one of their ends, win my two and it doesn’t matter who I’m playing, I think I can beat anyone and I think we will see that tomorrow.”

Patrick Wilson

Result: Lost 7-2 to Daniel Michel (Australia) in the Men’s BC3 individual preliminary. Wilson will play Karabo Morapedi (South Africa) in the final preliminary match on Saturday at 17:00 (CET).

Age: 29

Hometown: Edinburgh

On the match:

“I could be out or I could win the group. I had a good time out there.”