Para-athletes shine at goalball meet

Men’s category champion KL City Boys with MBPJ and GAM representatives.

IT WAS heartening to see the determination and spirit displayed by visually impaired athletes while playing goalball.

And unlike other sports, they played in silence during the ninth edition of the Piala Datuk Bandar national goalball championship.

Goalball is a team sport designed specifically for athletes with vision impairment.

Participants compete in teams of three, and try to throw a ball that has bells embedded in it into the opponents’ goal.

The ball is thrown by hand and never kicked.

This year’s competition took place at the Bandar Utama Community Centre, Petaling Jaya, and was organised by Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), Malaysia Blind Sports Association (MBSA) and Goalball Association of Malaysia (GAM).

KL City Boys players in action in the final.

This edition of the competition saw nine men’s teams and three women’s teams competing.

The participants were aged 16 and above.

KL City Boys emerged as the champion in the Men’s category after a dominating performance and took home RM2, 000 along with trophies and medals.

Their opponents in the final, Rangers were the runners-up while Young Tiger and Firewall finished third and fourth, respectively.

The Women’s category saw Future Champ edge past Young Tigress and Gurney Training Centre to be crowned champions, taking home RM1, 000 as well as trophies and medals.

MBPJ Zone 2 councillor Chan Pak Keung said the competition was a good platform for goalball players to showcase their talents.

“Through this competition, we can identify new players and help them progress in the sport.

“These disabled athletes deserve the opportunity to display their talents just like anyone else.

“MBPJ will try our best to attract participation from more teams, including other countries, to make this competition more lively, ” he added.