Robyn and Reshad are off to Rio

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 Two new faces will feature for Great Britain’s Boccia team at the World Cup in Rio next week.

Reshad Saraj and Robyn McBride are both set to make their British debut at the tournament which runs from 25 April to 3 May.

McBride, 23, is a BC3 player from Co Antrim, Northern Ireland. She can’t wait to compete:

“I first saw the sport of boccia at the age of 13 when the World Championships came to Jordanstown in Northern Ireland and myself and I had my photo taken with Nigel Murray. A seed was planted back then and later Disability Sport Northern Ireland came into our school and we would play different boccia games for fun.

A young woman wearing a blue tshirt and tracksuit bottoms. She is in a wheelchair and she wears a head pointer. Infront of her is a ramp on which there is a red ball. She has a look of concentration.

Robyn McBride is Rio-bound with Boccia UK

“I can’t wait to put on the GB shirt and compete in my first international competition and playing with Jamie McCowan in the Pairs.” 

Meanwhile, Saraj, 30, from North London is a BC2 player and started playing after first discovering boccia when watching the 2008 Beijing Paralympics:

“It’s not always been an easy ride but I’m so proud of myself for sticking at it and my support team has been amazing. I’m so excited and really honoured to be selected. It’s a dream come true.”

Performance Director Helen Nicholls says:

“Robyn’s an athlete with an incredibly exciting future ahead, having spent the last 18 months working hard and being brilliantly supported in Northern Ireland by Disability Sport Northern Ireland and Terry Conroy. Robyn has the world at her feet in Boccia and has been a delight to welcome into the team.

“Reshad is an athlete with fantastic experience and skill and has been a regular on the domestic circuit for many years. He has the talent to win matches, he is resilient and tough and it is exciting to be able to give him the opportunity to go to a World Cup and experience elite level Boccia.

“There is no expectation on either athlete to deliver results. Elite sport and the World Class programme is all about giving people opportunities and watching them develop and fly.”

Reshad Saraj selected to represent Great Britain at Rio World Cup

Saraj and McBride will be joined by triple Paralympic gold medallist David Smith (Eastleigh/Swansea), World number two Claire Taggart (Larne, Northern Ireland), Jamie McCowan (Ayrshire, Scotland), Will Arnott (Reading) and Louis Saunders (Bognor Regis).