Four gold medals were awarded on September 9, one each in Individual-BC1, Individual-BC2, Individual-BC3 and Individual-BC4.
Individual-BC1
Portugal's Joao Paulo Fernandes retained the gold medal he won at the Athens Paralympics with a clear 8-1 win over his teammate Antonio Marques. Fernandes saved his best performance for the gold medal match, having cautiously played his way through the competition, winning by small margins. He won by a single point in four out of his seven matches, including a 5-4 win over China's top player, Wang Yi, in the semifinals.
"Of course, I was a little bit stressed when playing with Fernandes," said Marques after the final. "We used to compete in the World Championships and we knew each other quite well. He used to beat me. But sometimes, I could also beat him."
Earlier, Gabriel Shelly of Ireland clinched the bronze medal by defeating Wang 6-2.
Individual-BC2
Kwok Hoi Ying Karen of Hong Kong came back from three points behind to beat Nigel Murray of Great Britain 5-3 and claim the gold medal. Both athletes were unbeaten going into the match although Murray was regarded as slight favorite having scored an impressive 47 points against all opponents in the competition. Kwok clinched the title in the fourth end with her first throw. Murray attempted to knock her red ball from near the jack but to no avail. World No. 1 Kwok adds Paralympic gold to those won at the 2006 World Championships and 2005 FESPIC Games.
"I performed very well except the first end," Kwok commented after the match. "But I could see the gold after I threw my first ball in end four."
"It's my first time to Beijing. After all the competitions, I want to visit the Great Wall and the Forbidden City," she added. "I will celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in Beijing -- it's quite special."
Earlier, Manuel Angel Martin of Spain claimed a well deserved bronze medal, defeating Argentina's Pablo Cortez 3-2 after a tie-beak end.
Individual-BC3
Teenager Park Keon-woo of the Republic of Korea snatched a 3-2 victory and the gold medal with his third last throw of his match against World No. 1 Grigorios Polychronidis of Greece. Park, 18, took a 2-0 lead in the first end, the first time in the whole tournament that Polychronidis had been behind in a match. Polychronidis scored the only point in the next two ends to make it 2-2 and thought he had won gold when his penultimate throw in the fourth end put his red ball closest to the jack. Park replied with a perfect throw to regain the advantage and Polychronidis rushed his last chance against the clock, finally playing a dead ball. It was a heartbreaking end for the Greek who played superbly through the whole competition. He has now finished runner-up at the last three major Boccia events – the 2006 World Championships, 2007 World Cup and now the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. Park adds the Paralympic gold to his 2006 World Championships title.
"I feel really great, but I do feel a little bit disappointed right now," said Polychronidis. "I think that might be the natural reaction for anyone who gets the silver, especially for those who lose in the final like me."
Earlier, another Korean, Jeong Ho-won, the World No. 33, upset Portugal's World No. 4 Mario Peixoto, showing great precision skills to win 12-0 and claim the bronze.
Individual-BC4
Brazilian Dirceu Pinto won his country's first ever Paralympic gold, defeating the World No. 1 Leung Yuk Wing of Hong Kong 3-1. The Brazilian had taken the early advantage, scoring the only point in the first two ends. Leung made mistakes and seemed hesitant with his throws in the third end, perhaps the occasion getting to him. Pinto was more clinical and took his opportunities, leading 1-0 at the start of the fourth. Leung could only take one more point from the fourth and Pinto closed down the game with some accurate throws, earning him a well-deserved gold medal.
"From my point of view, Leung was unbeatable, but in the fourth end the gold was almost in my hands," said Pinto after the final. "It was so difficult to control my emotions at that point. I asked God to help me -- to take me to the medal. I'm so happy I can't put it into words."
Earlier, Eliseu Santos won Brazil's first Boccia Paralympic medal by beating Spanish rival Jose Maria Dueso 7-1.
(BOCOG September 9, 2008)