Franchini’s Individual Gold Caps Incredible Italian Haul

Irene Franchini was shooting recurve internationally as little as six months ago, when she competed at the World Archery 3D Championships in Terni, Italy, and won silver with her team. 

She’s made her debut for Italy over 17 years ago and collected a recurve team world title at the World Archery Championships in Riom in 1999 and a team silver in Beijing in 2001. Shooting recurve, Franchini never climbed the individual podium.

With her compound, she has.

Irene overcame a poor third set and her nerves in the Ankara finals arena to beat two-time World Archery Champion Albina Loginova to her first individual world title at the 12th World Archery Indoor Championships.

The pair were tight until the end of the third, even both shooting a 26-point end in the third to stay level at 83 each after nine arrows shot.

But while Irene pulled away over the back six, Albina struggled.

“I woke up this morning and I couldn’t move my head to the right side,” Loginova explained. “I came to the venue to see if the doctor could do anything but I also had to shoot the team match.”

Russia’s compound women’s team fell just short in the team final against Denmark, losing in the shoot-off. Albina was taking much longer than usual to shoot her arrows, posting a couple of eights, which carried over to her individual final.

In the closing three-arrow series, trailing by a point, another eight landed in Albina’s first target – and Irene took the opportunity to pull away for good. She finished strong – 10-10-9 – and took the match, 141-138.

“It was very exciting, although I didn’t shoot as I wanted,” said World Champion Franchini.

“I shot an eight. [During the third end.] I was taking to long to adjust my aiming so I shot. Rather an eight than a miss, and I won.”

Italy also won the compound men’s competition in Ankara, courtesy of top-seeded trio Sergio Pagni, Michele Nencioni and Luigi Dragoni’s consistent shooting against the impressive Danish team. The Italians adjusted to the arena faster than their opponents, outlasting a late surge to take gold, 231-230.

“First in qualification, first in the matches and now world champions, we are happy about that,” said Pagni. “There’s no doubt that this is Italy’s best team in years.”

While two-time Archery World Cup Champion Pagni has been on top for many years, the second and third shooters on Italy’s compound men’s roster are starting to emerge as threats as well. The team’s level was fairly equal and the trio had their rotation and timing worked out to perfection.

“Michele was counting the time so we didn’t miss,” Sergio added. “Especially on the last arrow where we needed a good shot… and we got it!”

Italy also found success in Ankara with David Pasqualucci in the recurve junior men’s individual competition and with both recurve junior teams.

Sarah Prieels edged out Toja Cerne to compound women’s bronze, 140-139. The 26-year-old said the key was gaining the lead early in the match: “I was expecting to make a mess of it, but I didn’t! One point is enough.”