BROWN strikes gold in all-British women’s compound final

The British pair broke Russia’s dominance of the competition on the last day of individual medal competition, having dismissed Russian opponents in their respective semifinals.

Recurve Women W1/W2

Zahra NEMATI (IRI, photo) opened the day’s action with a 6-0 straight sets semifinal victory over Veronica FLORENO (ITA), winning each set by a minimum of three points.

The next semifinal between China’s LI Jinzhi and Elisabetta MIJNO (ITA) was a much closer match and went to a fifth set. MIJNO then shot an excellent 28 from her three arrows and the pressure seemed too much for LI. Her 6 on the final shot lost her the match and the chance to shoot for the gold.

In the bronze medal match, LI won the first two sets in style against FLORENO. But with victory in sight LI shot one on the outer edge of the target and FLORENO seized her chance for a dramatic comeback to force the match into a fifth set. LI, however, rose to the challenge to take the bronze medal.

The sun came out as NEMATI and MIJNO wheeled into the finals field for their gold medal match. Nothing could split the pair in the first set but NEMATI then raised her game and took the next two ends with 28 for each, going 5-1 up. MIJNO made a great comeback with a near-perfect 29 to make it 5-3. However, NEMATI kept her nerve, winning the final set and the gold.

Recurve Women Standing

Javzmaa BYAMBASUREN (MGL) faced LEE Hwa Sook (KOR) in the first semifinal and it was the Korean who looked strong from the outset. She had the chance to go 5-1 up in the third set but missed with her last shot to go 3-3. BYAMBASUREN then shot a 2, losing the fourth set. In the final set LEE powered through with a 25, beating the Mongolian’s 23, to take the match.

Milena OLSZEWSKA (POL) won the first set against YAN Huilian (CHN) in the second semi-final but the Chinese archer fought back to win the next three sets and take the match.

In the battle for bronze OLSZEWSKA went 4-2 up aganst BYAMBASUREN and needed a 9 from her final arrow to take the match. She took her time and landed a perfect 10, dead centre, to clinch third place.

YAN (CHN) left her best until last against Korea’s LEE to win the gold medal match. After LEE had taken the fourth set the two archers went into the final end tied 4-4, meaning the gold medal would be decided on the final three arrows. YAN then shot her best set of the day and probably the most important of her career. The 28 points was enough to beat LEE’s 24 and take the Paralympic title.

Recurve Men Team Open

In the men’s team last-eight elimination matches, Chinese Taipei beat Ukraine 194-183 with an arrow to spare to reach the quaterfinals. Chinese Taipei were ahead by three points after the first end and then lost that advantage in the next, meaning that at the halfway stage the match was level at 92 points apiece. Ukraine struggled in the third end and Roman CHAYKA did not help their chances by shooting a 2 which left them trailing by 10 points with only six arrows for each team left.

Turkey beat Malaysia 197-190 in the second elimination match. Turkey went 48-45 ahead but by the halfway stage their lead was only one point. Malaysia had a strong third end, going two points clear, and stayed in front until the final end, in which Turkey secured victory.

Compound Women Open

Danielle BROWN (GBR, photo) opened with a 10 against Marina LYZHNIKOVA (RUS) in the first semifinal and her opponent then took too long, failed to shoot her first arrow and scored 0 to hand the set to the Great Britain archer. They tied the next two sets and BROWN led 4-2 going into the fourth set. LYZHNIKOVA again faltered, this time shooting a 7, and BROWN took the match.

Stepanida ARTAKHINOVA (RUS) opened with a 7 in the second semifinal but CLARKE’s 10 in reply set the tone for the opener and the Great Britain archer went 2-0 up. ARTAKHINOVA then had a string of 9s but with CLARKE hitting 10s in every set, it was game over for the Russian.

In the bronze medal match LYZHNIKOVA took the first set 29-28. The next was a tie at 28-28 but ARTAKHINOVA levelled matters in the third, making it 3-3. ARTAKHINOVA then won the next two sets with fine shooting and, after a 7 for LYZHNIKOVA on her final shot, she clinched the bronze medal.

At the start of the all-British final BROWN pulled ahead with her first two shots, but CLARKE ended with a 10 to level the opening set.

The second set followed the same pattern; CLARKE needed a 10 to tie and that is what she shot. The third end started even but BROWN gained the advantage and won the set 27-26.

CLARKE opened the fourth set with a 10 and BROWN could only respond with a 9. In the final set both athletes shot 10s and 9s, leaving it all to the last arrow. BROWN shot first and landed a wide nine leaving CLARKE aiming for a 10 to win. To the disappointment of the crowd, CLARKE’s final arrow was a 7, meaning BROWN retained her Paralympic title and her world No. 1 status.

Source: PNS
Edited by World Archery Communication