SHAH ALAM, Dec 28 — For more than two decades, Malaysian para-athletes in boccia have repeatedly brought pride to the nation on the international stage, yet the sport has yet to gain widespread recognition among sports fans.
Despite this, boccia continues to thrive within its own community, seeing that it is the only competitive sport specifically designed for individuals with cerebral palsy. It is not only able to build their physical strength, but also help boost their self-confidence.
Selangor Boccia Association coach Nik Norol Azani Nik Aris said awareness of boccia remains low, causing it to be frequently viewed as a "non-mainstream" sport.
“Boccia is still not widely recognised in Malaysia. However, I believe it has the potential to grow. Our representatives won a silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympics, and we also had a finalist at the Paris Paralympics,” he told Media Selangor.
He expressed hope that the media would play a bigger role in promoting boccia to the wider public.
Boccia is a precision ball sport played on a flat, smooth surface, where players throw red and blue balls with the aim of getting as close as possible to a white target ball known as the “jack”.
Players or teams score points based on how many of their balls are closer to the jack than their opponent’s, with closer proximity increasing the chances of winning the match.
Nik, who has been coaching boccia in Selangor since 2019, views children with cerebral palsy or spastic conditions as an invaluable gift from God. He remains committed to educating and motivating the players to continue giving their best.
Ahead of the Malaysia Games (Sukma) 2026 to be held in Selangor, Nik has set a target of three gold medals
Ahead of the Malaysia Para Games (Para Sukma) 2026, Nik is determined to bring glory to the state by targeting three gold medals in boccia.
He hopes to replicate his team’s success at the Para Sukma 2022 in Kuala Lumpur, where seven of Selangor’s eight boccia athletes returned with medals, including two golds.
“My target is to deliver even more, three gold medals. This is a realistic goal. We are targeting the BC2, BC3 and BC4 events in the men’s category. For the women’s category, we are aiming for podium finishes,” he said.
New hope through boccia
Selangor full-time boccia athlete Muhammad Aqif Iskandar Zuljifri said his involvement in boccia felt like a blessing in disguise.
The 30-year-old individual admitted that he has loved sports since he was young, but never had the opportunity to take part due to his differences compared to his peers.
“I often went to Bukit Jalil to watch football matches. One day, an officer from the National Sports Council (MSN) approached me and asked whether I was interested in playing boccia.
"With boccia, I am happy that I can finally showcase my hidden talent,” he said, adding that he began his boccia journey in 2019.
Aqif's improved performance over the years has seen him selected to represent Malaysia at the 13th Para Asean Games in Thailand next month.
"This is my first time representing Malaysia, so of course I feel a little nervous. But I promise to do my best and not disappoint my coach and my family,” he said.
Meanwhile, Aqif hopes that boccia will begin to gain recognition among local sports fans and be treated as fairly as other sporting events.
“There is a certain perception about boccia, some people see it as a ‘sympathy sport’. Perhaps they received the wrong information. To me, this game is like playing chess and requires critical thinking,” he said.
