Para archers delighted to compete after long gap

Dubai - Zahra Nemati, the 2012 Paralympic champion, was happy to return to competition after a long time

The 7th Fazza Para Archery World Ranking Tournament- Dubai 2021 got off to a good start with archers sharing their excitement to compete after a long gap of more than a year.

More than 70 Para archers from 11 nations were in action with qualification (ranking) rounds for Recurve Men’s and Women’s Open, Compound Men’s and Women’s Open, Combined W1 taking place on the opening day.

Iran’s Zahra Nemati, the 2012 Paralympic champion who finished in top position in Recurve Women’s Open ranking round with a score of 620, was happy to return to competition after a long time.

“In regard to my preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, this is a very important competition and the score is good to start with. But I faced difficultly with the wind. I hope I can come out with better performance tomorrow,” Nemati said.

France’s Guillaume Toucoullet wants to take back the pleasure of competing at his first Fazza Championships.

“I was excited to compete today as this is my first time here at Fazza Championships. I am happy with the way I shoot today. I want to take the pleasure and enjoy the competition. I will look to secure a quota for France at Czech Republic. When I go back home, I will work hard to improve my technique,” said Toucoullet who qualified in the top position with a score of 620 in Men’s Recurve Open event.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s Oznur Cure who took the second spot in Compound Women’s Open qualification round with 673 score, appreciated the environment at the championships.

“I really enjoyed the qualification round. Everything was perfect – the environment, the weather, safety measures. My main aim here is to be champion and to show everyone what a disabled person can achieve," Cure said.

India’s Harvinder Singh, the 2018 Asian Para Games gold medallist, was happy to be in the shooting line after a long time. But he said “the condition was difficult today with the swirling wind making the shooting tough in the morning”.

“I didn’t get my desired result today. We should have got more practice sessions to be adjusted to the wind here. It should be same for everyone shooting this morning here,” Singh said.

Singh qualified in the third place in Men’s Recurve Open with a score of 607, finishing one place ahead of compatriot Vivek Chikara who had a score of 603.