Smith makes successful start to title defence

David Smith made a successful start to his bid for a fourth Paralympic gold with victory in his opening match.

Smith, 35, became the first boccia player to defend an individual Paralympic title in Tokyo and started his defence with a 5-2 win over Brazil’s Jose Oliveira.

Boccia is one of two sports at the Games without an Olympic equivalent, involving athletes throwing, kicking, or using a ramp to propel a ball onto the court with the aim of getting closest to a jack ball, similar to the national French past time of petanque.

“I’m feeling really good. I’m a little bit disappointed with the score but the first game is always awkward,” said Smith, who will also compete in the mixed team event in Paris.

“I was really nervous and I think it showed in the first couple of ends, I was pumped up. The problem was I was so up for the first two ends but then I relaxed.

“It was a massively important win. It’s a pool of three, so there is no margin for error. I don’t know what’s going to happen, it could go either way to be honest.

“It’s still all to play for and that’s why I would have liked a few more points for a bit of security. Perhaps I relaxed too much that’s why I gave away two points, I had to dig it out in the end.

“I’m looking forward to my second pool game now. I’ve got a day off so I can relax, recover, almost put this one to bed and start again. It’s now a knockout all the way through to the final.”

You can both see and hear Smith, who competes in the BC1 category, at the Paralympics, his bright red and blue mohawk has become a trademark while his screaming and punching the air are well developed parts of the five-time medallist’s on-court persona.

He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy aged one and admits he only took up boccia to avoid homework as a student at Treloar College in Alton.

“It wasn’t love at first sight, for sure,” he added.

“I started playing boccia when I was at school, and basically it was an excuse to get me out of doing homework.

“And then I went to tournaments, and the school I went to was very keen on winning.

“If you didn’t pick up a medal in something, you kind of felt a bit left out. Then I started winning in boccia, I became British champion at the age of 14. I’m still the youngest ever British champion.”

In the BC3 category, Patrick Wilson beat Will Arnott 5-3 in an all-British Group A opener.

The third end proved the pivotal one as Wilson picked up four points to go 5-1 up, with Arnott clawing back a couple in the final end which he hopes could prove crucial as he seeks qualification.

Wilson said: “It was a difficult match but I got through it. It was important to get through it.

“It’s always a bit awkward to play against a teammate but we did it in the right way. I’m excited to get out there and try to get my second win. I’ve got to be good to do that.”

Arnott said: “Getting those last couple of points on the last end to close up the score keeps the group wide open, depending on results there is still a very good chance of getting through.

“I’m in the late game tomorrow night so I’ll have some time to decompress, go through that game and come back refreshed.”

Wilson is up against Australia’s Daniel Michel on Friday night, with Arnold taking on South Africa’s Karabo Morapedi.