The four-strong team to represent Britain in the BC1 and BC2 categories at the Games is Paralympic gold medallist Nigel Murray along with Games debutants Zoe Robinson, Dan Bentley and David Smith.

 

This will be the third Paralympic Games for 44-year-old Murray, who made history in Sydney in 2000 when he became the first Briton to win an individual boccia medal, when he took gold. 

 

Murray, along with Smith and Robinson, was among the team that took gold at the Vancouver Boccia World Cup in 2007 to book GB’s place at the Paralympics.

 

For 18-year-old Robinson from Bury, Eastleigh’s Smith, 19, and 23-year-old Bentley this will be the first time they travel to the Paralympics.

 

Smith however is highly ranked in the BC1 class, having won individual World Cup gold in 2007 in a sport it is designed to be played by people with cerebral palsy and other locomotor disabilities affecting motor skills and involves throwing leather balls as close as they can to a white target ball.

 

Murray said: “I’m really pleased to be selected. It’s been a tough selection process for us as we are a close squad but I’m really pleased and excited now to be going to Beijing.

 

“Beijing will be my third Paralympics but I’m still really looking forward to it, as though it were my first.

 

"We’ve got a young and exciting team that is currently ranked No.1 in the world but with that comes more pressure to perform.”

 

Boccia team manager, Jacqueline Lynn, said: “Great Britain Boccia is delighted to announce their strong team of four for the Beijing Paralympics.

 

"Following a very tough selection process, Murray, Smith, Robinson and Bentley gained the places for the BC1/ BC2 Team.

 

“The team are currently ranked number one in the world within this category so we have the target of winning a team medal in Beijing.

 

"As well as the team event the athletes will compete in the individual competitions and with David currently ranked number two in the world for the BC1 category and Nigel number three for the BC2 category, there is potential for GB to win further medals.

 

“Final preparations are now in place as we head towards Beijing.

 

"Training plans and programmes are being finalised and the athletes will attend their final international competition in July in Wigan where we will compete against 10 of the top countries in the world.

 

“This is a strong talented team with future ambitions for 2012 but all eyes are now focused on Beijing.”

 

ParalympicsGB Chief Executive Phil Lane, said: “It is fantastic to be able to name a squad for boccia that includes such highly ranked competitors going into the Games. 

 

"The fact that three of the four will be making their Games debuts in Beijing shows the growth of the sport over the last four years.

 

“We have a great chance to medal with this team in Beijing.”