Australian boccia stars Dan Michel and Jamieson Leeson, alongside ramp assistants Ash Maddern and Jasmin Haydon, have sent a strong message to rivals ahead of next year’s World Championships with a dominant pairs victory at the Seoul 2025 World Boccia Cup.
The Australians claimed their first major title in over two years, defeating Poland 8-0 in the final after edging Greece 4-3 in the semi-final. Michel, a two-time Paralympic medallist, described the gold as “really rewarding” after a strong campaign in both pairs and individual events. Leeson, last year’s Paralympic silver medallist, said their preparation and composure were key to the win.
The tournament proved a standout for the Australians, with Michel and Maddern also earning silver in the BC3 male event, and Leeson and Haydon securing bronze in the BC3 female competition. Looking ahead, Michel said the result puts the team in an excellent position for the 2026 World Championships in Korea and qualification for the LA 2028 Paralympics.