PHOTOS:
Jacob Thomas on the winners' podium at the World Championships held in Beijing
Jacob is all smiles
Jacob's medals from World Championships
Jacob Thomas continues to climb the world rankings in boccia after the talented young player from Bethesda, near Narberth, deservedly gained silver and bronze medals in the World Championships held in Beijing, China.
After playing so well in the London Paralympics, Jacob showed how mature and confident a player he has become and these championships rounded off another season of success on the way to what he hopes eventually will be the chance to compete in the next Paralympics in 2016 at Rio de Janiero in Brazil.
Waiting for an e-mail
which brought fitting reward
There were four clear candidates for the three places available for the trip to China and when the e-mail arrived which confirmed his selection Jacob and his parents, Caroline and Michael, plus sister Polly, were delighted.
It was fitting reward for his commitment to the many hours of travel to training camps as far afield as Sterling (in Scotland), Sheffield or Surrey where the squad train from 9am-6pm and are also given talks about physiology, nutrition and psychology.
Long flight and lots of practice
Jacob made the long ten-hour flight from Heathrow to Beijing with his father Michael, who doubles up as his ramp assistant in the game that is akin to bowls and the French game of boules.
Under the rules of boccia, where Jacob competes in category BC3 (BC1, 2 & 4 are for disabled athletes to throw their six boccia balls,) where Jacob’s class rely on a ramp assistant, but Mike is not allowed to look at the progress of play or talk to his son, but forms a vital part of the team since he must follow the instructions given with military precision
And after two days of solid practice in the huge sports hall Jacob was in confident mood as he joined team mates Scott and Patrick, both from Scotland, in the pairs event where tactics really come into play and substitutions may be made by the coaches at any time in the four or five-end matches.
Progress made to the pairs final . . .
The British trio fended off strong challenges from the likes of Sweden and Colombia in the early stages but showed their true capabilities in the quarter-final as they slammed Japan 10-1.
It set up a semi-final against Greece, who included Jacob’s fierce rival Gregorius Polycronides, where the result was in doubt until the final delivery, but the UK eased home by 3-2.
It led them to take on South Korea in the final, rightly recognised as another of the top teams in the world, and the UK lost 6-1 as Jacob wasn’t able to exert an influence since Scott and Patrick were chosen to lead the UK team for that particular match.
. . . And more success in the singles
But Jacob was soon back in action for the singles and round-robin wins against Spain and Sweden saw him play team-mate Scott in the last 16 and winning 3-2 before he took on a talented new Brazilian player in the quarter-final who had shown his potential with a surprise success against the world No 2 from Portugal in the previous round.
But Jacob despatched him nicely to earn a semi-final place against Kim Han Su, the top Korean player. In a riveting contest Jacob led 4-2 with his opponent last to play and sending the white jack away from Jacob’s cleverly bowled balls and into his own to snatch the verdict by 5-4.
It was disappointing for the Bethesda Battler but he showed his quality as he took on Gregorius in the play off for the bronze medal and beat his oldest rival, who is much older, by 4-1 to secure his second medal.
And finally . . .
It was doubly nice for the local father and son team because, for the first time in the history of the competition, the ramp assistants also received medals so Mike also has a silver and bronze as reward for his total commitment.
“I enjoyed the whole experience,” Jacob told the Pembrokeshiresport.co.uk, “and it is great to be ranked in the top four in the world as a result.
“After a little rest from the travel I’ll be back in training and ready for another important season in 2015.”
Angela Miles, the Disability Sport Officer for Sport Pembrokeshire told us,
“Jacob’s rise to the very top in boccia is remarkable and everyone in Pembrokeshire should be very proud of him.”
**This Friday, 10th October, the fund-raising to ensure Jacob has a new competitive wheel chair continues apace as a fun quiz is to be held at 7.30pm at Narberth Rugby Club, organised by Telegraph Sport correspondent Bill Carne, and it is to be hoped a large crowd will attend to further support this very worthwhile cause and see Jacob’s silver and bronze medals from the World Cup.