Where it all started

It was one pleasant afternoon of December 2015 when Mr Harikrishnan or Hari anna as he is known came for his casual visits to my office in Vidya Sagar at that time I was the head of the department of disability legislation unit and hey "let us start Boccia through Ektha" I had heard about the sport a couple of years from Mr Manoj Soma and Mr Jaspal Shani of Choice International from The UK. They were insisting that we do something to develop the game in India at that time (middle of 2013) itself. But I couldn't focus on the game then as a lot of other things were going on including the drafting of the "New Law" for persons with disabilities.

When we at Ektha actually started Boccia?

We started with introductory camp some time in the later half of January 2016 for the aluminai of Vidya Sagar. As usual for persons with disabilities everything is delayed. We wasted almost 3 years after coming to know about the game.

What is Boccia?

Boccia is a Paralympic sport that can be played by anyone, with or without a disability. Originally designed for people with severe cerebral palsy, it is now enjoyed by players with a wide variety of disabilities. It’s easy for a beginner to pick up quickly, but builds in intensity and complexity as players hone their skills.

Boccia is a co-ed sport of control and accuracy, similar to curling or lawn bowling. Games last four or six ends. Players propel balls towards the target or “jack” ball. Each side has six balls (red or blue) per end to try and score points. The closest side to the target ball when all the balls have been played, scores. If the game is tied after all ends have been played, a tie-break end is played. Boccia can be played head to head, in teams of three, or in pairs.

Boccia has roots in Greece, where players threw large stones at a stone target. There were also objects and mural engravings relating to a similar form of the sport that were found as early as 5200 BC during the excavation of the tombs in Egypt. The sport was also played in market places and in the streets during the Middle Ages, and the word ‘boccia’ is derived from the Italian meaning to bowl.