DUBAI, 22st April 2017: Implementing the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai Club for the Disabled announced it has officially changed its name to ‘Dubai Club for People of Determination’ during the awarding ceremony at the conclusion of   the Fazza Bisfed (Boccia International Sports Federation) Regional Open Championship – Dubai 2017 held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council at the Dubai Club for People of Determination on Wednesday 19thApril.
The prizegiving ceremony for the winners   of the tournament was attended by Her Excellency Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, the Minister of State for Happiness; Ahmed Julfar, Director General of the Community Development Authority; ‎ Aisha Miran, Assistant Secretary General, Strategy Management and Governance Sector at The Executive Council of Dubai; Ibrahim Abdul Malik, Secretary General of the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare: Mohammed Abdul Karim Julphar, Vice President of Dubai Club for People of Determination; HE Thani Juma Berregad, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Fazza Bisfed Regional Open Championship – Dubai 2017, HE Majid Abdullah Al Usaimi, Director of Fazza Championships for the Disabled and Executive Director of the Dubai Club for People of Determination.
The new logo of the club which carried the word ‘People of Determination’ was unveiled amid an atmosphere of ‘happiness’ as laid out by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which inspires this category of people to continue their journey with more determination to overcome any obstacle and become winners in society by displaying their talent.
There was more joy for UAE who won the bronze medal in the Team competition, a rich reward for their long association with the sport of Boccia and their spirit of determination.
The UAE national team which won the bronze medal comprised Salem Al Ketbi, Salim Al Kaabi, Alaleeli Saleh Obaid, Alali Mohammed and Almarashda Khalid.
Thailand won the team gold medal and Hong Kong clinched the silver.
Individual finals
Thailand won a ‘double’ while Hong Kong and South Korea also grabbed the honours in an enthralling final day of individual competition on Wednesday.
It was organized and supervised by the Dubai Club for People of Determination with the support of their strategic partners Dubai Sports Council, Bisfed, the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare (GAYSW) and the UAE Paralympic Committee, with the participation of 56 elite Boccia players from 10 countries.
The participating countries were Australia, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, South Korea, Singapore, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and hosts UAE who fielded 14 players. The Fazza Bisfed Regional Open Championship – Dubai 2017 is a qualifier to achieve ranking points for the forthcoming World Championships and Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
Singapore and Australia also shared the spoils as the elimination rounds produced a high standard of competition resulting in some closely contested matches, including a couple of medal ties going to the wire require an extra end to break the deadlock.
UAE
UAE’s Alaleeli Saleh was the only player to feature in the medal round after losing in the BC1 semifinal to Thailand’s Witsanu Huadpradit. The UAE southpaw gave a valiant performance in the bronze medal match securing a point in the second end before the Rio Paralympics gold medallist in the BC1-2 team event for Thailand Subin Tipmanee asserted her supremacy to win 5-1.
Earlier, three UAE players bowed out in the quarter-final round with Raisa Al Falasi going down by the narrowest of margins 5-4 in the first BC4 quarter-final to the Rio Paralympics BC4 pairs bronze medallist Nuanchan Phonsila from Thailand.
In the BC2 quarter-finals, the UAE duo of Khalid Almarashda and Sultan Al Ketbi lost to bronze medallist Hiu Lam Yeung (Hong Kong) 8-2 and gold medal winner Watcharaphon Vongsa 16-1 respectively.
BC1
World number two BC1 player from Thailand Pattaya Tadtong had to pull out all stops before the winning the first tie-breaker of the finals against compatriot Witsanu Huadpradit who secured a 2-0 lead after two ends. Tadtong clawed his way back to tie the scores 2-2 before winning the play-off 2-0.
BC2
Thailand claimed their second gold medal where in a replay of the Rio Paralympics BC2 final, world number three Watcharaphon Vongsa prevailed over world number one Worawut Saengampa 5-2.
Hong Kong’s Hiu Lam Yeung won the bronze medal match against South Korea’s Byeong Cheoil Choi 5-1.
BC3
World number five Yuen Kei Ho of Hong Kong clinched the gold medal in the hotly contested BC3 category displaying superb skills and court craft to defeat Singapore’s Sze Ning Toh 5-0 in the final, after a gritty 5-4 win over South Korea’s Jong Ho Kwon in the semifinal.
Singapore’s Sze Ning Toh was pleased with the silver medal in her maiden appearance in the Fazza Bisfed Regional Open Championship – Dubai 2017.
“We never expected to win a medal. She had a great run in the tournament. It was a new experience playing on a different court. There were many tough matches but she played her best game in the semifinals to be in line for a medal,” said Toh’s assistant trainer Chew Zi Qun of her win over Australia’s Spencer Cotie 3-2.
The Aussie teenager featured in probably the best match of the evening, producing one of the greatest comebacks in the Paralympic sport of Boccia to win a tie-breaker bronze medal contest against South Korea’s Jong Ho Kwon after the scores were tied 4-4 after four ends.
The 18-year-old high school student from Sydney shrieked with delight after winning the play-off by a single point to clinch the bronze medal having stared at defeat trailing 0-4 after the first end.
“This is the first time Australia has ever won an individual medal in international competition. He has created history. We didn’t expect him to come this far. This is his best win ever,” said his proud assistant Alysha Winn.
The Australian contingent could not contain their joy after Cotie’s magnificent victory which seemed as good as gold.
Australia’s head coach Peter King hailed Cotie for showing grit and determination when the chips were down.
“The first end was not very good. He lost that by four because he made poor decisions. To work your way back… they were very hard points to get. Then to get a tie break and then go second in the tie break which is a big disadvantage is the hardest way to win. His (Jong’s) first ball was perfect and the separation he (Cotie) got with his first drive was even better,” said King on Cotie’s amazing win.
“He came here (Dubai) last year but this is only his third international tournament. He is a very good student of the game. He studies the game a lot. You got be smart to win. Overall we won three medals, the most medals we’ve ever won in a competition,” he added.
BC4
South Korea’s Seokbeop Won provided a thrilling finale to the Fazza Bisfed Regional Open Championship – Dubai 2017 when he stunned BC4 world number one and Rio gold medallist Yuk Wing Leung of Hong Kong in the final 4-3.
Won was in control throught being ahead in all four ends keeping calm to counter to aggressive tactics used by Leung to disturb the balls.
Thailand’s Ritthikrai Somsanur prevailed over compatriot Nuanchan Phonsila 8-0 to win the bronze medal.
Hospitality
“We are very happy with the arrangements and organizing. The hospitality has been excellent,” said Australia’s coach Peter King echoing the sentiments of both players and officials alike during the Fazza Bisfed Regional Open Championship – Dubai 2017.
Secretary-General of Bisfed Martin Lam was also full of praise for the facilities at the Dubai Club for People of Determination.
“Hats off to the LOC (local organizing coming). In short time they made this venue,” said Lam noting that the sport is developing rapidly with member countries having increased to over 60 since the establishment of Bisfed in 2012.
“In a way it is moving quite fast. In terms of skills, standard is high. Coaches development is more important and also equipment,” said Lam welcoming countries like Saudi Arabia and India who took part for the first time in Boccia.
Results
BC1
Semifinals: Pattaya Tadtong (Thailand) bt Subin Tipmanee (Thailand), Witsanu Huadpradit (Thailand) bt Alaleeli Saleh (UAE); Final: Pattaya Tadtong (Thailand) bt Witsanu Huadpradit (Thailand) 2-2 (2-0), 3rd/4th playoff: Subin Tipmanee (Thailand) bt Alaleeli Saleh (UAE) 5-1
BC2
Quarter-finals: Worawut Saengampa (Thailand) bt John Loung (Hong Kong) 9-0, Hiu Lam Yeung (Hong Kong) bt Khalid Almarashda (UAE) 8-2, Watcharaphon Vongsa (Thailand) bt Sultan Al Ketbi (UAE) 16-1, Byeong Cheoil Choi (South Korea) bt Ahmed Al Sweidan (Saudi Arabia) 12-0; Semifinals: Worawut Saengampa (Thailand) bt Hiu Lam Yeung (Hong Kong) 5-3, Watcharaphon Vongsa (Thailand) bt Byeong Cheoil Choi (South Korea) 5-0;Final: Watcharaphon Vongsa (Thailand) bt Worawut Saengampa (Thailand) 5-2; 3rd/4th playoff: Hiu Lam Yeung (Hong Kong) bt Byeong Cheoil Choi (South Korea) 5-1
BC3
Quarter-finals: Spencer Cotie (Australia) bt Jae Hun Lee (South Korea) 4-2, Sze Ning Toh (Singapore) bt Tanimpat Visaratanunta (Thailand) 7-3, Yuen Kei Ho (Hong Kong) bt Daniel Michel (Australia) 4-2, Jong Ho Kwon (South Korea) bt Min-Chei Chen (Chinese Taipei) 5-1; Semifinals: Sze Ning Toh (Singapore) bt Spencer Cotie (Australia) 3-2, Yuen Kei Ho (Hong Kong) bt Jong Ho Kwon (South Korea) 5-4; Final: Yuen Kei Ho (Hong Kong) bt Sze Ning Toh (Singapore) 5-0; 3rd/4th playoff: Spencer Cotie (Australia) bt Jong Ho Kwon (South Korea) 4-4 (1-0)
BC4
Quarter-finals: Nuanchan Phonsila (Thailand) bt Raisa Al Falasi (UAE) 4-3, Seokbeop Won (South Korea) bt Wai Yan Vivian Lau (Hong Kong) 4-2, Yuk Wing Leung (Hong Kong) bt Pornchok Larpyen (Thailand) 9-1, Ritthikrai Somsanur (Thailand) bt Yuen Cheung (Hong Kong) 5-2; Semifinals: Seokbeop Won (South Korea) bt Nuanchan Phonsila (Thailand) 5-3; Final: Seokbeop Won (South Korea) bt Yuk Wing Leung (Hong Kong) 4-3; 3rd/4th playoff: Ritthikrai Somsanur (Thailand) bt Nuanchan Phonsila (Thailand) 8-0