Accurate throwing and high-intensity running – up to 50 throws and 50 short runs in a 5-minute session – this is the specialty of Daniel Samsa, star Lyonnaise Progressive Throw player (Boules Sport) from Australia.
Samsa holds the Asia/Oceania Progressive Throw record of 44 hits out of 48 tries, achieved last year, and was bronze medallist in this discipline in the 2017 and 2019 World Championships.
“Progressive Shooting really appeals to me, as there is a physical component involved. The 5 minutes of high-intensity running in Progressive shooting provides an exciting challenge when combined with the accuracy of hitting targets,” Samsa says. “I think the event is largely a challenge with yourself, no matter who your opponent is, because you must focus on running correctly and throwing with correct technique.”
How it all started for Daniel Samsa
“I started playing when I was 12 years old,” tells Samsa. “I was introduced to the sport by my grandfather, an immigrant to Australia, while visiting his hometown in Slovenia. When I got back to Australia, he asked me to join him in a weekly competition in Sydney, and from there I continued playing. I first had the privilege of representing Australia at a junior level when I was 14 years old, and this experience drove me to improve and aim high.”
“At junior level, my first coach Lozje Magajna played a large part in my development, teaching me how to play and introducing me to the competitive side of the sport. He not only taught me the basics of the game, but also introduced me to the spectacle of international competition by showing me videos and telling me stories of the great European players. As I reached the skill level to join the Australian Senior squad, the experience of my team-mates pushed me to develop and refine my game, and inspired me to match their past achievements.”
A technical, physical and mental challenge
Progressive Throw is by far the most athletic of all Boules disciplines and demands on the body and mind are high. On a 40m long court, competitors run up and throw a metal ball underhand from one end towards the other, aiming to hit and displace a small jack ball placed in a marked pocket near the other end. They then run to the other end, a minimum of 22.5m, to repeat the procedure back towards the first end, and continue at top speed from end to end, alternately throwing and running. Competitors have precisely 5 minutes to make as many throws as possible. Each successful hit scores a point.
“Every hit is important, so tactically, the emphasis for me is to find a good rhythm, and to minimise the number of missed throws early on in the 5 minutes, to help relax and reduce any nerves. I think the most important technical skill is consistency to repeat your technique correctly for every throw, and the most important mental skill is concentration, as 5 minutes can feel like a long time and you must be focused on many things for the entire period,” says Samsa. He completes each cycle – sprint 22.5m, turn, run-up, throw the ball – in no more than 6 seconds, and he is doing up to 50 of these in the 5-minute slot!
Training – rhythm, technique, endurance and strength
Samsa is among the world’s best at sprinting, turning, running, and accurately throwing the ball—all at top speed. This level of precision and rhythm demands intense training. “I’m very determined to win,” he says. “Sometimes I spend two hours throwing 200 balls until I feel I’ve made progress.”
Running also plays a key role. “Running 22.5m and turning about 50 times can add up to over 1100 m in five minutes,” he explains. To meet this challenge, Samsa trains for both power and endurance with a mix of short- and long-distance runs, along with strength work to handle the physical demands of turning.
Looking forward to Chengdu
“I qualified through my results at last year's World Championships, where I made the quarter-finals in the Boules Lyonnaise Progressive Throw event. I am currently preparing for the 2025 Australian Championships which will be held in June,” says Samsa.
“I am hoping to use this competition as preparation for Chengdu, so that I can be in the best shape for August, both mentally and physically.”
There will be eight country representatives in this year’s men’s Progressive Throw competition, and the Australian will be competing against athletes from Argentina, China, Croatia, France, Italy, Slovenia and Turkey.
“When I am not competing in Chengdu, I would love to use my time to explore the city and experience the culture. It would also be great to see some pandas while I am there!”