Quotes of the Ranking Round

  Recurve Men Standing   Kenny ALLEN (GBR) – 1st On setting a personal best and Paralympic record of 651:
“I know it’s only the ranking round but to shoot a PB is great and to end up in number one is not too bad either. I also beat (woman compound open archer) Mel CLARKE, if you can believe it. I’m having a ball, it’s all great fun and I’m simply enjoying it.”
 
Timur TUCHINOV (RUS) – 2nd “It happened as planned. I wanted top four so second was good, but I try not to make plans. As soon as you start to make plans or as soon as you chase your opponents you will fail. Shoot to your ability and don’t try too hard.”
   
Recurve Women Standing   LEE Hwa Sook (KOR) – 4th On her favourite opponents and close relationship with archers from other countries: 
“Korea played against China in the female group final in Beijing 2008. Since then, we have a good relationship with each other and they call me ‘old sister’. I am particularly close to GAO Fangxia (CHN) who did really well today in the ranking round.”

On her performance:
“It was not very good because the weather is very unpredictable and changeable. I had not had such weather in my life. Especially during the performing, the weather was much more changeable, so it was hard to deal with. It seemed OK when we practised yesterday but it was much changeable today.”

On her preparations for the Paralympic Games:
“When I was in Korea, my colleagues and I had some physical problems. It was a hard time to deal with. However, we are very proud to be representatives of Korean archery. So I will try my best definitely. I think I am quite good at big games. I believe that I can play well in London 2012.” 

Recurve Men W1 and W2   Phil BOTTOMLEY (GBR) – 3rd “I’m really pleased for Kenny (ALLEN, GBR), he beat my (personal) record. I shot 630 today and I’m in third, what more can I ask for? It’s up there with my best ever. In the stadium (finals range) is where the job really starts.”  
Oscar DE PELLEGRIN (ITA) – 4th On being a flagbearer in the Paralympic Opening Ceremony:
“It was fantastic to carry the flag and I felt so happy and proud to do it. It gave me the emotions that only sport can give.”

On this being his sixth Paralympic Games:
“This is my sixth paralympics and my goal is to shoot well until my last arrow. My favourites were Barcelona (1992) and Sydney (2000), but I’m surprised and impressed with London. Such a great atmosphere.”

On the bad weather affecting competition:
“The weather disturbed the competition, but I’m quite satisfied with my score. I wanted 630 (points) and I got 625. Maybe tomorrow (Friday) I’ll do 640, because I am feeling good.”
    
Recurve Women W1/W2    
Elisabetta MIJNO (ITA) – 2nd “I’m very pleased, I’m happy with my performance as it was very difficult to shoot a good score. It wasn’t my best performance and I found it hard because in Italy we’re used to training in 40 degrees (centigrade). I’m not used to these conditions. I know the Iranian archer who is leading (Zahra NEMATI), she is a very good friend of mine and I think at the moment she is the best in the world in our category. I hope I can go close to a medal.”
     
Kate MURRAY (GBR) – 8th
On the Opening Ceremony:
“It was amazing and brilliant to be part of it and very emotional. My family were all watching at home, but I wasn’t too keen, looking up and seeing my face on the big screen.”

On turning 64 on the first day of competition:
“I certainly don’t feel 64 and I’ve had lots of lovely presents. The best one, a beautiful silver bracelet from my daughter, which I wore today.”

On competing at the next Paralympic Games:
“I want to keep on going as long as I can. It’s what gets me out of bed and certainly I’d love to do another Paralympics. I’d love to go to Rio (2016).”

On her performance:
“Not too bad. When it got wetter, I got worse, but I’m still quite pleased. It was my best performance since my operation (on her shoulder). Middle of the road but when the sun shines I’ll be amazing. I’ve got to do well tomorrow (Friday) because all my family is coming down for the finals.”

On competing in Woolwich, where she grew up:
“I left here when I was 8 but I remember playing here, close to the Barracks. It’s still quite similar, but there’s a lot more traffic.”

Compound Men Open:   Matthew STUTZMAN (USA) – 1st “I feel good. Qualifying first is great, but I still feel I have room for improvement. Most importantly this puts me in a great place moving forward into the main event tomorrow (Friday).”      
Jere FORSBERG (FIN) – 2nd “I was pleased because I’m shooting well. This is my first Paralympic Games and only my third senior competition. I didn’t shoot well last year (he came ninth at the Stoke Mandeville Open in September, 2011). Today conditions were very difficult but I’ve been shooting well in the last two months.”
   
Dogan HANCI (TUR) – 3rd On his performance:
“The second half was not good to me. Yes I’m happy with my seeding but I have very good champions (to face in the coming rounds) so we will see.”

On how the adverse weather conditions affect Paralympic athletes:
“I can manage but we in Turkey train in much warmer weather so people from colder climates have had an advantage today. The cold affects my body and we (Paralympians) have it worse than non-disabled (athletes) as our circulation is often not as good. I also have an unstable pulse as well to deal with.”
   
John STUBBS (GBR) – 4th On his performance:
“It’s been very difficult today, very tricky shooting and fair play to the guys in the top three positions. I finished fourth and still feel I’m in contention and although I have a bye, I’ll now have to meet an archer who will have won in the previous round.”

“I’ve been shooting very well recently and only two or three weeks ago I won my last competition I was in.”

On the advantages of shooting on home ground:
“I’m optimistic coming into the Games and being on home turf I’d like to think that the support that British competitors would get would be like the 13th man to us. I hope the public here at the archery gets behind us.”

On the pressure of being reigning Paralympic champion:
“There’s no pressure being defending champion as there’s a four year gap between the Games, but I’d like to think I could make it a double. My immediate aim now is to make sure I’m still in the competiton come Monday.”
        
Philippe HORNER (SUI) – 8th On his performance:
“It was hard but the pleasure of shooting arrows and of competing is more important than a bit of wind and rain. Whether I come first or eighth, as I did today (Thursday), really doesn’t matter to me. Results like mine today don’t give me any more pressure because tomorrow will be another day, another competition and we all start with the slate clean.”

“It’s such a pleasure to be here. You can see it on everyone’s face. Yes, it’s wetter and windier than I’ve seen in a while but that doesn’t matter. Tonight I’m going to have a nice hot shower, a good dinner and look forward to tomorrow (Friday).”
   
Compound Women Open:      
Danielle BROWN (GBR) –1st On qualifying first with her lowest score of 2012:
“I’m kind of miffed and mixed really. It’s my worst score of the year, but I’m still on top. We all know it’s the head-to-heads that count. I know the conditions were not great, but I dont want to make excuses.”
    
Stepanida ARTAKHINOVA (RUS) – 2nd “I had a good day. Well, normal really. I ended up in second. Mainly, it all went as planned but of course all I’m really after is the gold.”
    
Mel CLARKE (GBR) – 3rd On the bad weather conditions affecting her shooting:
“Certainly ‘interesting’ and they (the wind and rain) caused me to drop in the middle when my arrows were caught in the wind. I though ‘wow, what now?’ but that’s when all the training helps you keep your focus.”

Pippa BRITTON (GBR) – 8th “I feel that I did well despite the conditions, but these things are part of the challenge of the sport and everyone found it difficult so that’s why the scores are very close together.”
     
Compound Men W1 
David DRAHONINSKY (CZE) – 1st 
“Plenty of satisfaction in how I’ve shot today and it’s only the first step. This round is only practice. They were difficult conditions and I had to concentrate, but I didn’t do as well as I thought I could. There’s better to come.”

On working with a sport psychologist to improve his performance:
“I’m shooting much better this year than I was last year when I was second in the world championships (in Turin). I have started to work with a sport psychologist this year and I’m trusting that this will bring me good results here and beyond.”
  Source: PNS Edited by World Archery Communication