Brazil, Canada share gold at boccia’s Americas Championship

Brazil’s Jose Carlos Oliveira just missed out on a medal at London 2012, but he was able to pick up gold in the individual BC1 event in Kansas, as he defeated Mexico’s Eduardo Ventura, 4-1.

Brazil claimed four boccia gold medals and Canada picked up three at the 2013 BisFed Americas Championship in Kansas, USA, with players from Argentina, Mexico and USA also winning medals for their country.

Brazil’s Jose Carlos Oliveira just missed out on a medal at London 2012, but he was able to pick up gold in the individual BC1 event in Kansas, as he defeated Mexico’s Eduardo Ventura, 4-1, while Canadian newcomer Hanif Mawji won bronze against the experienced Argentinian Mauricio Javier Ibarbue, 4-1.

Brazil also came out on top in the individual BC2 class in the form of Maciel Santos, as he narrowly saw off Pablo Alejandro Cortez of Argentina 3-2, and unranked Mexican Damian Osegura defeated Argentina’s Sebastian Gonzalez for the bronze medal.

It came as no surprise that after dominating the two individual competitions, that Brazil would do the same in the team BC1-2 team event, with them losing only one of their six games, with the team that beat them, Argentina, winning silver, and Canada claiming the bronze.

Canada put their stamp on the tournament in the individual BC3 event with a gold-medal win from Paul Gauthier, who defeated home favourite Austin Hanson of USA, 4-2. Argentina’s Maria Belen Ruiz won bronze after beating Brazil’s Anderson Oliveira, also by a 4-2 score.

Marco Dispralto of Canada breezed past Brazil’s Marcelo Santo in the individual BC4 event, notching up seven points without a reply, whereas Argentina’s Tadeo Ivan Villagra came out on top against Canada’s Caroline Vietneck in an exciting match that finished 6-3.

Canada claimed their third gold in the pairs BC3 class, as they picked up 19 points in total in the overall final group phase, with Brazil winning silver with a total of 14, and USA ending on a total of 10 to pick up the bronze medal.

Brazil pulled of a surprising gold medal win in the pairs BC4 event, as they won the overall final group phase with 10 points, and Argentina claimed third silver of the tournament thanks to a total of eight.

Canada, who were touted as favourites for the gold, had to settle with bronze.