Two-time Paralympian Claire Taggart hopes her win at the UK Boccia Championships can inspire other females to take up the sport.
Taggart excelled to clinch the BC2 title with a superb 6-2 victory in the final in Swansea.
It was the first ever all-female BC2 final, with Taggart having previously competed against male opponents.
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Commenting on her achievement, Taggart said: “I am delighted to retain my title of UK Boccia BC2 Champion, especially as it is an event close to my heart and where I was first spotted by Boccia UK back in 2014.
"The hard work will continue, though, as I am now training to compete at the World Boccia Championships.
“I won my first ever World Cup medal earlier this year and am really looking forward to having another opportunity to compete on the world stage in the biggest event of the boccia calendar outside of the Paralympic Games.
“Previously, I would have played against the men, but World Boccia has introduced separate individual competitions for men and women. I’m hoping that this will drive participation among women and girls in the sport. It’s also an exciting prospect because we now have more medal opportunities as a team."
It has been a strong year so far for women in Boccia in Northern Ireland with Taggart and Robyn McBride making their impression on the world stage bringing home four medals.
Taggart secured two gold medals in Povoa, winning both the individual BC2 event and the team event alongside David Smith OBE and Will Hipwell.
McBride won Bronze in the individual BC3 event and silver in pairs alongside teammate Will Arnott at a World Boccia Challenger in Veldhoven.
Currently sitting in the world number two spot of the women’s BC2 rankings, Taggart has also recently been named in Great Britain's nine-strong boccia squad for the 2022 World Championships in Rio de Janeiro from December 3-14 along with McBride who is currently sitting at number 24 of the women’s BC3 world rankings.
McBride will be supported by her ramp operator Davy McBride.
Disability Sport NI Boccia Performance Pathway Officer Terry Conroy said: “It has been a very successful year for Claire and Robyn and it is great to see such a strong female representative from Northern Ireland on the World stage.
“Everyone involved in boccia in Northern Ireland will all look forward to cheering Claire and Robyn on as they progress to the World Boccia Championships, making history competing in the first ever female only competitions.
"It was also fantastic to see Daniel Elliot make his debut representing Northern Ireland at UK level as he competed at the recent UK Boccia Championships with support from his father and ramp operator Billy Elliot.”
For a full list of boccia clubs in Northern Ireland contact tconroy@dsni.co.uk.
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