Moldovan schoolboy shines on day of shocks at the archery

Teenager Dan OLARU (MDA) was the surprise star of the men's individual event as he progressed to the 1/8 elimination round after beating two higher-ranked archers at Lord's Cricket Ground on Wednesday. The 15-year-old Moldovan beat team silver medallist Jake KAMINSKI (USA) in a shoot-off in the 1/32 elimination and then ended Simon TERRY's (GBR) progress with a 7-1 win in the 16/1 elimination. On a day of upsets, both men's and women's world No.1s went out. Brady ELLISON (USA) lost 7-1 to Taylor WORTH (AUS) in the 1/32 elimination and Deepika KUMARI (IND) lost 6-2 to Amy OLIVER (GBR) at the same stage. Men's individual: WORTH started the day looking forward to an Ashes (traditional cricket match between Australia and England) clash with Alan WILLS (GBR) and finished it as the outsider who ended world No.1 ELLISON's (USA) hopes of a second medal. Still on cricket, the match against WILLS was numbered 111, traditionally a bad-luck number. It turned out to be for WILLS, who needed a 10 in the shoot-off and missed by millimetres. WORTH, who beat ELLISON on their last meeting at the world cup, Ogden in June 2012, is ranked No.44 in the world but finished 23rd in the ranking round and has carried on that form at the London 2012 Olympic Games. He did not lose an end as he caused a major upset to the gold medal favourite. OLARU, who took up the sport three years ago and is ranked No.190 in the world, showed no sign of nerves as he extended USA misery by knocking out KAMINSKI, who only needed an eight to win but shot a four. That meant a shoot-off and KAMINSKI could only deliver a seven. The Italian men's gold medal-winning team have struggled in the individual event. Mauro NESPOLI went out in the first round as did teammates Michele FRANGILLI and Athens 2004 champion Marco GALIAZZO. Viktor RUBAN (UKR), gold medallist at Beijing 2008, needed a shoot-off in the first round to beat LIU Zhaowu (CHN) but had no problems beating CHEN Yu-Cheng (TPE) 6-0 in the 1/16 elimination. Women's individual: India have had a miserable time of it at London 2012 but no-one would have predicted a first-round exit for world No.1 KUMARI (IND). OLIVER (GBR) won 6-2 then went out 7-1 in the next round as Ika Yuliana ROCHMAWATI (INA) closed out with a perfect 30. Team gold medallists KI Bo Bae (KOR) and CHOI Hyeonju (KOR) moved into the last 16, though the erratic-shooting CHOI was lucky to make it after two shoot-off wins against Jessica TOMASI (ITA) and Iria GRANDAL (ESP). However, she did deliver under pressure, shooting 10s to clinch the matches. Khatuna LORIG (USA) continued her good form by easily beating Sherab ZAM (BHU) 6-0. ZAM is one of only two Olympic athletes representing Bhutan. LORIG went on to beat Louise LAURSEN (DEN) 6-4. ONS Edited World Archery Communication