Raessa Alfalassi pride of UAE at 2nd Fazza International Boccia Competition

Raessa Alfalassi kept UAE's flag flying high in the 2nd Fazza International Boccia Competition at the Dubai Club for the Disabled in Al Qusais with an inspired performance on the third day.

The UAE star partnering Ayesha Essa Almehairi and Ahmed Essa Aljazeeri began the day by defeating Kuwait in the BC4 pairs event before they were edged out by the Iraqi pair of Asil Abbas Saghir and Ihab Ahmed Abdel Ridha in the evening in thrilling regional battles.

However, Raessa proved she has immense talent to go places in a sport which she began just a year ago, by defeating Iraq’s Abdel Ridha 6-3 to take second spot in pool 2 of BC4.

UAE’s Ayesha Essa Almehairi also lost narrowly to Iraq’s Asil Abbas Saghir 2-3 in her final pool match in BC1.

“It has been a good learning experience competing against world class players from Portugal and Thailand. I enjoyed the competition because our skills improve when competing against players who have more than 10 years experience. We will definitely benefit by the international exposure,” said the UAE Boccia captain Raessa Alfalassi who carried the aspirations of a nation with aplomb on her broad shoulders.

“Sport is about handling pressure when you are playing. I feel my standard has improved,” said Raessa who takes competing against male competitors and even beating them in her stride.

“Women have same power as men in this sport. In fact, they may be even better because they are more focused,” she added.

Held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, it is organised and supervised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center and Dubai Club for the Disabled with the support of the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare, Dubai Sports Council and the UAE Paralympic Committee.

Boccia is a highly specialised competitive sport for people with cerebral palsy or related neurological conditions and is practiced in more than 50 countries.

A total number of 51 players from nine countries including hosts UAE with 14 players participated in the 2nd Fazza International Boccia Competition.

This is first sport of its kind for people with neurological disabilities in the Middle East.

The 1st Fazza International Boccia Competition hosted 41 players from across eight countries in May last year – including the UAE, Iraq, Thailand, Malaysia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Tunisia and Portugal.

Qatar is the newest entry to this year's Fazza International Boccia Competition.

Portugal

Pedro da Clara and Fernando Pereira of Portugal threatened to break the dominance of Thailand in the 2nd Fazza International Boccia Competition with a resounding 20-0 victory in the BC4 Pairs preliminary match. They also defeated hosts UAE 7-3.

“These two are the most experienced members of our team. We are confident of winning the BC4 pairs title in Dubai,” said Portugal’s long-standing coach Helena Bastos.

“We brought some new players this time because we want to develop our team. They are Bernardo Lopes and Roberto Ferreira. This tournament is an ideal preparation for the World Open Boccia Championships to be held in Poland in June which is huge tournament and European qualification event for Rio de Janeiro (Paralympic Games) next year,” said Bastos who is in her 24th year as coach of Portugal.

Lopes, 21, is the youngest member of Portugal’s five-member squad who also boast arguably the oldest competitor in the sport Fernando Pereira, 60.

UAE’s Raessa Alfalassi who competed against Pereira lauded him for going great guns at this age.

“It proves that age is no barrier in this sport and even though you have handicaps you can succeed if one has the determination and willpower. This is a sport which gives hope to live life to the maximum,” she said.

Portugal’s coach Bastos concurred by saying Boccia can be played by a 15 year-old or those who are 60.

Head of the referees in the world governing body of Boccia, BisFed, Bastos gave a thumbs up to the organising of the 2nd Fazza International Boccia Competition.

“It is a very important tournament for the region. Dubai has so many good facilities to improve the sport of Boccia. The venue is excellent and close to the hotel. Hope you continue with this tournament and more countries take part,” said Bastos.

BC1

Thailand’s Pattaya Tadtong, winner in Dubai last year at the inaugural Fazza International Boccia Competition, topped the six-player pool 1 in BC1 with a staggering 84-2 scoreline in five matches.

The world number three beat Mohamed Fadhel Jiad of Iraq 5-2 and Fahad Albabtain of Kuwait 10-5 in his final league matches on Monday. Jiad qualified to the semifinal in second place from this pool.

Malaysia’s Lean Chin Kit also headed pool 2 of BC1 with an unbeaten run and 76-3 aggregate score after defeating Mohamad AlMutairi in his final league match 14-0. Portugal’s Lopes finished second in the pool to qualify for the semifinals.

BC2

Thailand’s Watcharphon Vongsa, Abilio Valente of Portugal, Malaysia’s Lee Chee Hoong and Achref Tayahi of Tunisia sealed their berths in the final four of BC2 by topping their pools.

Fazza Championships

This is the fifth championship under the umbrella of the Fazza Championships for People with Disability to be held this season - the Fazza National Championships for People with Disability, Fazza International Para-Archery Competition, Fazza International Athletics IPC Grand Prix Dubai 2015, which witnessed the participation of nearly 500 athletes, and the 6th Fazza IPC Powerlifting World Cup Dubai 2015 which attracted 133 athletes from 25 countries.
The Fazza International Wheelchair Basketball Championships is scheduled to be held in May.

Boccia categories

BC1 - Players with Cerebral Palsy who are able to use their hands or feet to consistently propel a ball into play. BC1 athletes may have an aide outside the competition court to pass them their ball upon request or to amend the wheelchair and ensure its firmness.

BC2 - Players with Cerebral Palsy who are able to use their hands to consistently propel a ball into play and have greater functional ability than a BC1 athlete and are not allowed to have any aide.

BC3 - Players with Cerebral Palsy or other disability with locomotor dysfunction in all four limbs who are unable to throw or kick a ball into play and as such are permitted to use an assistive device such as a ramp to propel the ball into play and are supported by an assistant. The assistant has to look away with their backs to the court.

BC4 - Players who do not have Cerebral Palsy but have another disability with locomotor dysfunction in all four limbs and have similar functional ability to BC2 athletes. Disabilities such as Muscular Dystrophy and Tetraplegia will fall under this classification as long as they prove able to throw the ball efficiently and are not allowed to have any aide or assistance.

 

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