Ottawa, ON (April 3, 2025) – Canada is set to showcase its boccia talent at the Santiago World Boccia Challenger in Chile, fielding a formidable 18-member squad of athletes, performance partners, and staff. With 78 athletes from 13 countries competing, Team Canada is ready to rise to the challenge on the international stage.
Representing Canada are BC1 athletes Lance Cryderman (Val Caron, ON) and Liza Puri (London, ON), BC2 athletes Mégane Ravary (Montréal, QC) and Danik Allard (Montréal, QC), BC3 athlete Alex Lemaire (Kingsey Falls, QC), and BC4 athletes Iulian Ciobanu (Montréal, QC) and Alison Levine (Montréal, QC). Ravary and Puri will be competing in their first international boccia tournament.
Ahead of the event, Puri and Ravary trained at the National Training Centre in Montréal, QC, honing their skills with with Boccia Canada coaches and former National Team athletes. The sessions sharpened their technique and strategy as they prepared for their international debut.
Ravary is excited for what she sees as a new adventure. “I discovered a sport that allows me to push my limits. Boccia has brought me many wonderful encounters, perseverance, and a growing passion in my life. Even today, I train with determination to progress and have enjoyed every moment on the court.”
The competition kicks off with BC1 and BC2 individual events and team play, followed by BC3 and BC4 individual events and pairs competition. Canadian athletes will participate in all events except the BC3 Pairs.
The Santiago World Boccia Challenger provides a valuable platform for Canada’s boccia athletes to gain international experience against top-tier talent. With rigorous preparation and a dedicated support system, Team Canada is ready to make its mark on the global stage.
The results and schedule will appear here in the World Boccia calendar after classification is complete on April 6th. The webcast court and link will also be announced on the Boccia Canada Facebook page on April 6th. The competition begins on April 7th with BC1 and BC2 individual play with the medal ceremony on the 10th. The BC3 and BC4s begin on April 11th with medals on the 14th.
For more information on Canada’s boccia program and upcoming events, visit www.bocciacanada.ca or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (X). Throughout the competition, the Facebook page will be the most active around updates.
About Boccia Canada
Boccia Canada is the boccia delivery arm of the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (CCPSA), the National Sport Organization for the Paralympic sport of boccia. Boccia Canada is focused on providing athletes and individuals of all ages and skill with the chance to play a unique Paralympic sport. CCPSA leads, develops and grows boccia from grassroots to producing World Champions, and we collaborate with partners to increase participation of Canadians with physical disabilities in sport.
About boccia
Boccia is a Paralympic sport of precision and strategy similar to lawn bowling or curling, played by athletes with Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, and related disabilities. It is one of only two Paralympic sports that do not have an Olympic counterpart. Athletes compete in one of six sport classes based on their level and type of disability: BC1, BC2, BC3, BC4, BC5, and Open. For more information on boccia, visit www.bocciacanada.ca.
Media Contacts
Holly Janna
Communications Lead and National Team Coordinator
Boccia Canada
hjanna@bocciacanada.ca
514-944-5193