ParalympicsGB win their 30th Tokyo Games gold as David Smith successfully defends his boccia title after battling back from a 2-0 deficit
David Smith is a double Paralympic champion after he won an enthralling boccia final in Tokyo – to claim Great Britain’s 30th gold at this Games so far.
The 32-year-old fought back from 2-0 down to Malaysia’s Chew Wei Lun to win his second successive gold medal in the sport, after triumphing in Rio 2016.
The Eastleigh-born player’s success was the latest medal triumph for ParalympicsGB on day eight of the Tokyo Games.
David Smith is a double Paralympic champion after the Brit won Wednesday’s boccia final
Smith roars with delight after a successful throw during the gold-medal match in Tokyo
Malaysia ‘s Chew Wei Lun (centre left) took a 2-0 lead but could only watch Smith’s fightback
Earlier, British archer Victoria Rumary won bronze on her Paralympic debut in the W1 women’s individual event in Tokyo.
Having defeated Brazilian Rejane Candida Da Silva and Italy’s Asia Pellizzari earlier on Wednesday, the 33-year-old was denied progression to the gold medal match by a 127-107 loss to Czech Sarka Musilova.
Rumary recovered from that setback to earn the final podium place at Yumenoshima Final Field courtesy of a 131-123 success against American Lia Coryell.
Rumary first took up archery as a 14-year-old, made her international debut six years ago, and came into these games ranked world number one in the W1 category.
There was a second bronze medal for Britain in the table tennis. The men’s class 8 team of Aaron McKibbin, Billy Shilton and Ross Wilson secured it after going down 2-0 in their semi-final against China.
Victoria Rumary won bronze on her Paralympic debut in the W1 women’s individual event