BC4 Pairs
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Eliseu Santos (R) and Dirceu Pinto [Xinhua]
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Eliseu Santos and Dirceu Pinto won gold for Brazil with the very last throw of their match against the World No. 1 Portuguese team. Portugal's Bruno Valentim and Fernando Pereira had a one-point advantage in the fourth end, for a 3-2 lead. A tie-break looked inevitable. But a brilliant long throw from Santos nudged Portugal's blue ball away and put two reds closest to the jack, giving the world No. 6 Brazil a 5-2 victory.
The result means both Pinto and Santos both take home two Paralympic medals. Pinto adds to his Individual BC4 gold and Santos to his Individual BC4 bronze won on Tuesday.
"I was happy with the first gold, now I'm more than happy," Pinto said. "I can't put it into words. I thought it would be impossible to get another gold -- I have to thank God for that."
The Czech pair Ladislav Kratina and Radek Prochazka were rewarded for their impressive performances, defeating Spain 7-3 to take home the bronze medal, the nation's first ever in Paralympic Boccia.
(BOCOG September 12, 2008)