Canadian Boccia Team Named for 2022 Povoa World Cup
Athletes Danik Allard, Kristyn Collins, and Lance Cryderman are selected once more to compete both individually and in Team play in Povoa
Ottawa, ON (July 2, 2022) – Boccia Canada have selected the team of athletes who will compete at the 2022 Povoa World Cup that takes place in Portugal from July 3 to July 11.
“The Povoa World Cup will give the Canadian Boccia Team the opportunity to compete against world-class athletes and prepare for the 2022 Rio de Janeiro World Championships at the end of the year,” explains César Nicolai, Head Coach, Boccia Canada. “The ultimate goal is to gather as many ranking points at the World Championships as possible which will help to qualify for the Paris Paralympics in 2024.”
The athletes, coaches, and Integrated Support Team have been putting in a lot of work preparing for competitions this year. There was a hiatus of competing for two years due to COVID but now everyone on the team has gotten into the rhythm of competing and training regularly. All athletes selected for Povoa have competed in two international competitions this paralympic cycle and are looking to showcase their skills once again in July.
“We have been working on key elements in training that we learned at competitions so far this season,” said Nicolai. “In Povoa, the main goal is to continue to build our game and our progression towards the Rio 2022 World Championships… Many of the best athletes in the world will be present in Povoa so it will be an excellent opportunity to implement what we’ve worked on in training over the last few months.”
Nicolai will be sending a squad of eight athletes to Povoa which includes Alison Levine (Montréal, QC), Danik Allard (Bois-des-Filion, QC), Éric Bussière (Verchères, QC), Iulian Ciobanu (Montréal, QC), Kristyn Collins (St. John’s, NL), Lance Cryderman (Sudbury, ON), Lois Martin (St. John’s, NL), and Marco Dispaltro (St.-Jérôme, QC).
At the last two international competitions, Levine medalled in individual play and the current world number two athlete in the female class is hoping for another podium in Povoa: “I hope to continue my streak of medaling in individuals at every competition since we split divisions, and I’m confident I can achieve that. Last time there was a tournament in Portugal I only played in pairs, where Iulian and I won gold and secured our spot for the Tokyo Paralympics, so we’ll be looking to repeat that performance.”
Nicolai intends to bring home many medals in Povoa: “I’m confident that with the work done in the last few months we are able to get several podiums at this event!”
This will be the sixth time in the past ten years that the Canadian Boccia Team attends an international competition of this calibre in Povoa.
The athletes will also compete in BC4 Pairs and BC1/2 Team.
Follow the Canadian Boccia Team’s performance throughout the 2022 Povoa World Cup via the Boccia Canada Facebook page for updates around game play, results, schedule, media releases, and much more here.
Find all international rankings on the World Boccia website here.
About Boccia Canada
Boccia Canada is the boccia delivery arm of the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (CCPSA), the National Sport Organization for the Paralympic sport of boccia. Boccia Canada is focused on providing athletes and individuals of all ages and skill with the chance to play a unique Paralympic sport. We lead, develop and grow boccia from grassroots to producing World Champions, and we collaborate with partners to increase participation of Canadians with physical disabilities in sport.
About boccia
Boccia is a Paralympic sport of precision and strategy similar to lawn bowling or curling, played by athletes with Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy and related disabilities. It is one of only two Paralympic sports that do not have an Olympic counterpart. Athletes compete in one of six sport classes based on their level and type of disability: BC1, BC2, BC3 BC4, BC5, and Open.
Media Contact
Holly Janna
Communications Lead and National Team Coordinator, Boccia Canada
Email: [email protected]
Phone Number: 613-748-1430 x3 | Cell: 514-944-5193