Liverpool 2018: Worawut Saengampa seeks more gold

Even though we were winning, each end felt like the first with a 0/0 scoreline"

Thailand proved true to their world No. 1 status after dominating Friday’s (17 August) semi-finals of team and pairs events at the 2018 World Boccia Championships in Liverpool, Great Britain.

The BC1 / BC2 team – featuring recently crowned individual BC2 world champion Worawut Saengampa and Watcharaphon Vongsa – scored an 8-3 victory over Brazil. They advance into Saturday’s (18 August) final against Japan, who nearly missed out on a spot in the gold medal match after China took them to a 6-5 scoreline going into the final end.

The fight for BC1/BC2 bronze will see Brazil battling China.

Greece’s 2018 BC3 individual champion Greg Polychronidis will be hopeful to add to his medal haul, as he and teammate Anna Ntenta will face Australia for the pairs gold. Hong Kong will go up against South Korea in the bronze medal match.

“Each game is so tough,” Polychronidis said. “I was just telling (my wife and assistant) Katerina that I am exhausted. Even though we were winning, each end felt like the first with a 0/0 scoreline.”

World No. 1 Slovakia prepare to face No. 6 Thailand who are ranked sixth for the BC4 pairs prize.

“It’s an amazing feeling and an honour to be in the final,” Slovakian Samuel Andrejcik said. “We know these guys (Thailand), we can prepare somehow and we must rest a lot and we hope for the best result as we can do.”

In their second bronze medal opportunity of the day, Hong Kong’s BC4 pairs will face Germany.