Archery Highlights: Mijno, Toucoullet, Cure Girdi, and Xinliang Lead the Way in Paris
In a thrilling display of skill and precision, the qualification rounds for archery at the Paris 2024 Paralympics delivered remarkable performances, setting the stage for an exhilarating competition. On August 29, 2024, the archery events saw several standout athletes topping the charts in both recurve and compound categories.
French archer Guillaume Toucoullet made headlines by dominating the recurve men's qualification with a stellar score of 652. This impressive performance not only secured him the top spot but also shattered the existing Paralympic record by eight points. Reflecting on his achievement, Toucoullet expressed confidence despite facing challenging weather conditions. "I feel very good. It was a little bit hard to start due to the wind, but once I adjusted, I was able to shoot as I wanted," he said. Toucoullet's focus now shifts to the upcoming matches as he aims to maintain his strong performance throughout the competition.
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In the women's recurve category, Italy's Elisabetta Mijno also delivered a noteworthy performance. Scoring 641, Mijno narrowly missed breaking the Paralympic record but still secured the top seed. The 38-year-old archer noted the significance of her performance, acknowledging the challenges she faced in the initial rounds but highlighting her strong finish. Mijno, who has previously placed fifth in the Paralympics, expressed her cautious optimism. "I was shooting well in the latter part of the qualification. The competition truly begins now," she remarked.
China’s Wu Chunyan and Mongolia’s Selengee Demberel also made their mark, finishing second and third, respectively, in the women's recurve qualification.
On the compound side, Türkiye's Oznur Cure Girdi delivered a spectacular performance, setting a new world record with a score of 704. This remarkable feat came after a tight contest with India's Sheetal Devi, both of whom surpassed the 700-point barrier for the first time in para compound women’s history. An emotional Cure Girdi shared her feelings of triumph and hard work, saying, "I’m so emotional and feeling so many things. We worked very hard and dreamed of this position."
China's Ai Xinliang, aiming to break his own world record of 709, ended up matching it and setting a new Paralympic record. Despite facing fluctuating weather conditions, Ai reflected positively on his performance, acknowledging that while he fell short of a new world record, his efforts were well-rewarded. His teammate He Zihao placed second, and Finland's Jere Forsberg rounded out the top three.
As the competition progresses, the excitement is palpable. The next rounds promise to deliver even more thrilling archery as these top qualifiers aim to convert their excellent performances into podium finishes. The archery events at the Paris 2024 Paralympics continue to capture the spirit and determination of athletes from around the world, making for a truly unforgettable experience.
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