The international pair and team tournament took place on Saturday, 23 June 2018. BTC 2018 Pairs and Teams was the very first international tournament for pairs and teams to take place in Slovakia. The pair tournament – two against two – is for players in the BC3 (Pairs BC3) and BC4 (Pairs BC4) classes, while the team tournament – three against three – is for players in the BC1 and BC2 classes (in BC2, at least one player has to be from class BC1 and the team has to include a woman). The tournament was attended by 42 players from 6 countries: Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Ukraine, Croatia, the United Kingdom (England, Wales). Some pairs and teams consisted of players from different countries.

The winners in class BC1/BC2 were:

1. Martin Opát, Peter Minarech, Rastislav Kurilák, SVK
2. Simona Blažková, Jozef Žabka, František Petrák, CZE
3. Tia Ruel, Tim Hayes, Saraj Reshad, ENG

The winners in class BC3 (Pairs) were:

1. Boris Klohna, Miroslav Bielak, SVK
2. Karl Parrish, Marcela Čermáková, WAL/CZE
3. Kateřina Křivánková, Václav Augusta, CZE

The winners in class BC4 (Pairs) were:

1. Samuel Andrejčík, Michaela Balcová, SVK
2. Melissa Osmanovič, Davor Komar, CRO
3. Marek Schmid, Jan Bajtek, CZE

The international BTC 2018 Singles Tournament was a friendly, non-ranking tournament, but still a prestigious, quality event. It was attended by some of the world’s top-ranking players as well as players active on a national level. This edition was attended by 49 players from seven different countries: Slovakia (18), the Czech Republic (14), Hungary (2), the United Kingdom (England (6), Wales (1)), Croatia (2), Poland (5) and Ukraine (1). The tournament included players from all singles classes – BC1 to BC4.

Medal winners:

BC1 - 1. Sajdak Roman CZE, 2. Cuřínová Kateřina CZE, 3. Ruel Tia ENG,
BC2 - 1. Hayes Tim ENG, 2. Kurilák Rastislav SVK, 3. Stasiak Rafał POL
BC3 - 1. Klohna Boris SVK, 2. Vašíček Kamil CZE, 3. Maddison Lee  ENG
BC4 - 1. Komar Davor CRO, 2. Balcová Michaela SVK, 3. Osmanović Melisa CRO

Medal standings: 1. The Czech Republic (CZE) - (1-2-0), 1. Slovakia (SVK) - (1-2-0), 3. England (ENG) - (1-0-2), 4. Croatia (CRO) - (1-0-1), 5. Poland (POL) - (0-0-1).

The list of attending players speaks volumes about the quality of the tournament as several of them hold top positions in the world rankings, including Samuel Andrejčík – SVK BC4 (10), Davor Komar – CRO BC4 (13), Michaela Balcová – SVK BC4 (14) and Rastislav Kurilák – SVK BC2 (37).

The tradition of a quality international tournament in our region is successfully continuing. Awareness about this international boccia tournament organized in Slovakia is gradually increasing in the neighboring countries as well as further abroad. Although Slovak boccia players are very successful internationally, most of them do not have enough opportunities to play with skilled players from abroad. For many boccia players, the opportunity to play with other players than those they usually meet at national tournaments and championships is an important and valuable experience.

The international tournament consisted of a group stage and a final, elimination stage. The sports hall, which is adjacent to the hotel, was wheelchair accessible. The games were played on seven courts with hardwood floors. Accommodation for the attendees was provided at Alexandra Wellness Hotel and Avena Relax Hotel in Liptovský Ján.

After the tournament, some of the attendees stayed longer for a fitness stay in the ideal conditions offered by the Jánska Dolina Valley.

Referees:

Martina Kinčešová – chief referee; Šajnarová Kateřina (CZE), Kučerová Eva (CZE), Herel Lukáš, Kocúrová Kristína, Andrejčíková Ľudmila, Balcová Vladimíra, Uhrová Katarína, Křivan Robert (CZE), Csaba Urban, Kondela Ľubomír, Svat Ľubomír, Sabatula Rastislav, Fejerčák Jozef, Grega Matúš, Halický Patrik

Timekeepers:

Jana Lysáková, Patrik Sipos, Richard Varga, Božena Mašľarová, Hana Mačová, Marcel Bonk, Drahomír Ištván, Anna Tóthová, Martin Tomaško, Alena Tomašková, Ladislav Tatarko

Organizers:

Tournament director: Boris Klohna
Technical director: Mgr. Ondrej Bašták Ďurán
Sound: Jozef Sirotňák
Host: Lenka Miháliková

Graphic design:

Graphic Studio PICTUS, Prešov – PaedDr. Anna Mačová

Supported by:

Visegrad Fund, as part of the Visegrad Grants program, (www.visegradfound.org)

International partners:

Sportovní club Jedličkova ústavu Praha, Česká Republika
FODISZ - Fogyatékosok Országos Diák-és Szabadidősport Szövetsége, Maďarsko
PROMETEUS - Stowarzyszenia Osób Niepełnosprawnych Ruchowo ich Rodzin i Przyjaciół, Poľsko

Event sponsors and partners:

• The Slovak Association of Disabled Athletes
• Graphic Studio Pictus
• ARES
• Prešov Region Sports Center
• Bashto Sports

Contact details:

ZOM Prešov - občianske združenie ľudí so zdravotným postihnutím (športový klub), Karpatská 18, 080 01 Prešov, Slovakia, www.zompresov.sk, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +421 517 701 499, +421 908 487 603, +421 904 596 079

Fotogallery:

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