Simonelli among finalists at Dubai para ranking event

Reigning para archer of the year Alberto Simonelli is among the athletes qualified to contest gold medals at the fourth Fazza Para Archery World Ranking Tournament in Dubai, UAE, after seeding top in the compound men’s event.

“I was a bit rusty after our trip to Dubai from Italy, where it is still very cold. During Sunday’s qualifying I could have done better, but I wasn’t feeling too good,” said Simonelli.

“[The eliminations were] a different day, and I am pleased.”

Simonelli scored 687/720 points in the ranking round and beat local archer Mohamed Alshehhi, then Jamie Harris of Great Britain and France’s Philippe Horner in matchplay.

He’ll face Marian Marecak of Slovakia in the final.

The compound women’s open gold medal match sees Simonelli’s mixed team partner Eleonora Sarti take on Jane Karla Gogel of Brazil.

Brit Victoria Rumary and Japan’s Naka Yoshitsugu will shoot in the mixed-gender W1 final.

The recurve men’s open event has Thai archer Hanreuchai Netsiri and Kevin Mather of the US on the cards, and the women’s final will be contested by Iraq’s Zaman Al-Saedi and Oyun-Erdene Buyanjargal of Mongolia.

The fourth Fazza Para Archery World Ranking Tournament takes place on 2-8 March in Dubai, UAE.