Boccia glory for Azhad

Project Choice student Azhad Fauzi is celebrating after securing his place in the national boccia finals.

Azhad, 22 from Newcastle has been playing boccia for 11 years and is on his way to becoming an England player after being selected for the future England Squad.

Similar to bowls, boccia is a tactical ball sport where you score points by rolling your balls down the ramp with the aim of getting them closest to the white ball – the 'Jack'.

The aspiring Paralympian recently competed in the Heathcote Cup North, where he played against 4 others, coming out of on top to win the competition. Azhad will now compete in the national finals next April in Coventry.

Azhad is delighted with his latest success: “I’m really excited and extremely proud of myself for achieving these things. I hope to keep progressing and achieve more. I would like to win more medals and eventually became a world-class player.”

“My advice to anyone wanting to try something new is to take your time and have lots of fun with it. I really hope to inspire other young people with disabilities to be more involved in sports and to believe in themselves.”

Kloe Wilson, Curriculum Leader at the college said: “Huge congratulations to Azhad on his latest victory, he thoroughly deserves this. Playing boccia has given him greater confidence and a real sense of achievement and we can’t wait to see what he achieves next.”