McGuire guides British team into semi-finals in Hong Kong

Stephen McGuire is closing in on his second medal of the Hong Kong Boccia World Open alongside British teammates Evie Edwards and Louis Saunders in the BC4 pairs.

Two-time Paralympian McGuire claimed gold in the individual BC4 event and could replicate that performance in the pairs after booking a semi-final clash against Hong Kong.

McGuire and his cohorts did not get off to a perfect start after losing their opening encounter against Brazil’s Eliseu do Santos, Marcelo dos Santos and Ercileide da Silva 6-4.

But they bounced back in style with a comfortable 5-1 victory against Croatia, picking up five points in the final three ends after finding themselves behind after the opening end.

And the trio sealed their place in the final four after winning their final Pool B round-robin encounter against Thailand 4-1, scoring a point in each end to emerge triumphant.

They will now face the hosts in their semi-final on the final day of action for the right to contest for the gold medal against the winner of the other last four clash between Thailand and China.

In the BC3 pairs, the British team of Jamie McCowan, Jessica Hunter and Patrick Wilson are also in good shape with one more game to play in Pool A.

The trio got off to a dream start with a thumping 9-0 victory against Canada in their opening game, before also seeing off the challenge of Japan with a 4-0 win.

And they continued their unbeaten run with a 4-2 triumph against Russia after racing into a 3-0 lead after the first end before picking up a further point in the third end.

Wilson, who has already claimed individual BC3 silver in Hong Kong, McCowan and Hunter will now face Greece in their last pool game for the chance to reach the knockout stages.

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