Galiazzo wins in Turin

The European and Mediterranean Indoor Archery Championship ended last week-end in Turin and Olympic Champion Galiazzo (ITA) showed he was ready in this crucial year for him.

Galiazzo (ITA) in Turin In total, there were 15 titles that were awarded during the EMAU Indoor Championships, eight in senior (elite) and eight in juniors.   In Recurve Men, Galiazzo was definitely the most consistent across his five matches scoring 117, 117, 118, a perfect 120 and 119. He defeated Badenov (RUS) in the final 119-118. Drutsul (UKR) took the bronze. In the team event, France was a surprise winner over Germany.   On the women’s side, there was a strong Ukrainian – Italian contest with three quarterfinals pairing athletes from these countries. In one of them, Lobzhenidze (UKR) beat the multiple Indoor World Champion Valeeva (ITA) in the shoot-off, after a tied score at 119. However, the Ukrainian was defeated in the final by team-mate Dorokhova 116-118. Tonetta (ITA) took the bronze beating Mospinek (POL). The Ukrainians could not confirm their supremacy in the team competition, as they lost in the final against Russia.   In Compound Men, Pagni (ITA) was scared in the second round scoring only 115 and finally defeating Malm (SWE) in a hard fought shoot-off. Otherwise, the Italian was royal scoring 120, 115, 119, 119 and winning the final against Elzinga (NED) 120-118. Hofer (SUI) took the bronze. Elzinga had nevertheless a great week-end when he won the team title over Finland.   In Compound Women, Longo (ITA) defeated team-mate and World Champion Salvi 118-117 in the quarterfinal. She moved on to win the title beating Goncharova (RUS) in the final. Hunt (GBR) earned the bronze. Goncharova got her revenge over the Italians when she won the gold with the team.   In Junior Recurve Men, Melotto (ITA) was the new individual champion, but he lost the team final to Spain.   De Matos (FRA) won the Junior Recurve Women title and the Ukrainians girls showed they were as good as the women, taking the team gold.   The Swiss Fumeaux and Burri made an historical “doublé” in the individual Compound Men caterogy but they could not quite confirm it in the team event. They lost for one point to Italy.   Artemova (RUS) was the lone Champion in the Junior Compound Women category. All the details results can be found on the official website: www.torino2008.eu.   These European Indoor Archery Championship 2008 were well organized in the Olympic venue Palace “Oval Lingotto” and gave a great end to the Indoor season. The athletes will now take it outside and be looking forward to the warm weather of Santo Domingo (DOM) for Stage 1 of the Meteksan Archery World Cup 2008 in less than a month!   FITA Communication