Hidetaka Sugimura won the gold medal in the finals of the Tokyo Paralympics, the individual boccia on the 1st, and the class with mild disabilities such as cerebral palsy.


It


was the "strength of the heart" created by

the

self-confidence that

"I have done everything I can" that won the victory from the Thai player who is said to be the "absolute champion" such as winning the previous Rio de Janeiro tournament

.

Calm Sugimura The Thai champion who suffered from heavy pressure

Boccia competes for how close his ball can be to the white target ball, the jack ball.

Top class players are said to control in millimeters.

Winning or losing will depend on how you can face your own play with a normal mind only in competitions that require precise skills.

The opponent of the final was Thai national star Watcharapon Bonser, who won gold medals both individually and in groups in the previous tournament.

Despite the big stage to challenge the "absolute champion", Sugimura's expression did not change as usual.

The accuracy of pitching, which is called "precision machine", is as usual.

Sometimes it fits perfectly on the jack ball, and it is skillfully controlled in an exquisite position that blocks the opponent's pitching course.

If the opponent's ball was in the way, I pushed it away to make space and screwed it in to pull my ball.



In contrast to Sugimura, who controls the ball freely, Boncer says, "I was under pressure to protect my title."


Occasionally, there are slight mistakes that are not like a champion, such as not being able to get close to the jack ball or popping Sugimura's ball.

Sugimura did not overlook the gap and scored points, gradually expanding his lead.


There was no super play that reversed the formation at once.


However, I calmly and steadily carried out while searching for the best pitch in that scene.

The final score is 5-0.

While the champion collapsed, the "precision machine" was not disturbed until the end.

“The only thing you can do in a match is what you have done in practice”

Why was it possible to fight so calmly?

The answer returned from Sugimura was simple.



"I think the only thing I can do in a match is what I've done in practice. I'm confident in what I've done and I just show what I've been working on."

At the last Rio de Janeiro tournament, Sugimura did not reach the medal individually, and although he won the silver medal in the group, he lost to Thailand led by Boncer in the final.

"I can't beat Thailand as it is", and I reviewed the attitude of facing Boccia from the beginning in the wake of the defeat.

In addition to practicing to improve the accuracy of pitching, I felt that it was necessary to strengthen my strength, so I attached a dedicated trainer and worked on training my core and arms in earnest.


Boccia athletes with cerebral palsy and other disabilities cannot do normal strength training, but they trained as much as possible by using tubes and exercising, such as getting up from a wheelchair while holding onto something.

Furthermore, in order to pursue the stability of pitching, we have developed a wheelchair for competition for ourselves in cooperation with the manufacturer.

The frame, handles that support the body, and the position of the center of gravity have been finely adjusted.

The accumulation of these five years of "I've done everything I can" has created unwavering strength on the big stage.



Sugimura:


"There were some weaknesses in Rio, both mentally and technically. I think that each and every one of the various efforts we have made over the last five years has led to this connection."

Don't forget the origin of "enjoying boccia"

There is another word that impressed me.



"This tournament has been one of the themes of enjoying boccia. I think I was able to enjoy my favorite boccia on this stage."



As the words say, Sugimura seemed to have some fun throughout the tournament.

After a good pitch, he clenches his fist with an expression that exposes his fighting spirit, and if he makes a rare mistake, he laughs bitterly.

At the end of the match, I always smiled and praised my opponent for a good fight, and the moment I decided to win, I cried.

And I thanked him for being able to play at the Paralympics all the time.



Sugimura who faced the highest stage without forgetting the origin of "enjoying boccia" and Boncer who suffered pressure to win consecutive championships as the ace of the kingdom of boccia.

It may be said that the result of the final was also the difference.



Sugimura who enjoyed the five days from the qualifying league to the fullest and made efforts for five years.

From the 2nd, I will face a group battle as a Japanese captain.