Beijing, China
September 06, 2008 to September 17, 2008
Day 1 - Sept. 7
2008 PARALYMPIC GAMES: Boccia competition underway; Hawker competes in first two rounds of pool playFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 7, 2008
BEIJING, China –Boccia competition got underway at the 2008 Paralympic Games today and Timothy (TJ) Hawker (Holland, Ohio) began his Beijing competition with two rounds of pool play.
Hawker, Team USA’s lone boccia athlete, faced Hanif Mawji from Canada in Round 1. The match went back and forth with alternating points by each athlete before ending in a 2-2 tie. Mawji broke the tie by scoring an additional point in the fifth end.
“I thought it was a good game,” said Hawker. “I was happy to play my friend from Canada.”
U.S. Boccia Coach Mark McMillan was positive about Hawker’s play and the beginning of competition in Beijing. “It was a very good match. He played good defense and we’re off to a good start,” he said. “We are both honored to be here in Beijing.”
In the second round of the day’s competition, Hawker faced a tough competitor, Yi Wang, from China. Wang went from a score of zero to four with the throw of one ball in the first end. Hawker came back with a point in the second but the game ended with Wang winning, 8-1.
Hawker will continue competition Monday when he faces the number one ranked player in the world, Franciso Javier Beltram of Spain in the third round of pool play.
For more information or to arrange an athlete interview, please contact Jeannine Hansen at 13910756748 (if calling from the U.S., dial 011 86 plus the local number).
