The stage is all set for the finals of the 8th Fazza Para-Archery World Ranking Tournament World Qualifying Tournament for Paris 2024 – Dubai 2024 with some of the finest archers to shoot for the top honours at the Dubai Club for People of Determination grounds on Thursday.
But before the finals, excitement, and celebration for several teams as they secured quotas for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in the final qualifying event in Dubai. Among the prominent ones was Bangladesh which won their first ever quota for Paralympic Games.
Bangladesh’s Joma Akter won one of the two quotas on offer in the compound women open final quota event defeating Teresa Wallace from USA in third /
fourth place event.
“I’m so ecstatic. I was very nervous when I started but gradually, I felt good with my shooting. It is a very proud moment for me to win a quota for my country. I will be training more now to be better,” said the rookie archer Akter.
Among other nations who will be making their debut in Paris was Indonesia who won their fifth quota – recurve women open, while Austria won their first quota for Paris 2024 in Dubai on Wednesday evening.
Exciting medal events
Meanwhile, world and continental medallists including India’s Rakesh Kumar (compound men open), Elisabetta Mijno from Italy (recurve women open), Czech Republic’s Tereza BRANDTLOVA (women W1), Turkiye’s Oznur Cure (compound women open) and Aydin Yigit Caner (men W1) all will be in action in the W1, compound and recurve open finals of the Dubai 2024 Para Archery event.
Great Britain’s Paralympic gold medallist Phoebe Paterson Pine will be in action in the compound women open bronze medal match.
In a thrilling contest, India’s Rakesh defeated USA’s Kevin Polish 145-143 in the men compound open semi-finals. After leading by two points, Polish shot a poor six in last end to ruin his final chances.
“I have heard this – In archery, anything can happen in the last arrow and that’s what happened today. I didn’t expect it, but I am very happy to be in the finals,” added the world champion from India.
As many as 230 archers from 56 nations are taking part in the world ranking event in Dubai.
