The boccia event of the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games opened on December 9 at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Sports Park, with Guangdong sending its largest-ever delegation of 19 athletes to compete.

Among them was Lin Ximei, the Paris 2024 Paralympic champion who made history by winning China's first-ever Paralympic gold medal in boccia. On the opening day, Lin staged a comeback in the women's individual BC4 category, overcoming an early 0-6 deficit to secure a narrow 7-6 victory.

"There's always a chance until the last ball is thrown. You must never give up," Lin remarked after the match. She noted that while some assume a Paralympic gold makes domestic competitions easier, many strong opponents, particularly from Hong Kong, make every match challenging.

Boccia, originally designed for athletes with cerebral palsy, is now open to individuals with severe impairments affecting motor function. Players compete in wheelchairs, aiming to land leather balls as close as possible to a target white ball. The sport is classified into four categories (BC1–BC4) based on the level of disability.

Guangdong hosts the national boccia training base. Head coach Tan Weilin acknowledged the pressure that comes with a home advantage but emphasized the importance of focus: "I tell the players to concentrate only on the court and the game."

The competition will continue through December 14.

Photo | Yangcheng Evening News