Europe’s best boccia players meet in Portugal

Rio 2016 champions and home favourites the ones to watch 24 Oct 2017

Great Britain's David Smith is a two-time Paralympic boccia champion

ⒸOIS

By IPC

A total of 112 athletes from 22 countries will compete at the 2017 BISFed European Championships in Povoa de Varzim, Portugal, from 25 October-1 November.

Great Britain’s two-time Paralympic champion David Smith will start as favourite in the individuals BC1. The 19 competitors will be divided into five groups, with the two best from each qualifying for the quarter-finals.

The home crowd will be expecting to celebrate gold through Abilio Valente in the individuals BC2 and Rio 2016 bronze medallist Juan Carlos Macedo in the individuals BC3. Slovakia will be favourites for gold in the individuals BC4 thanks to Samuel Andrejcik.

Mixed pairs BC3 and BC4 events will also be contested, with Greece and Slovakia likely to come on top. The European Championships will also feature a team competition.