5 October 2010 - English archer pushes back boundaries

English archer pushes back boundaries Delhi – 5 October 2010   There was no wiping the smile from Danielle BROWN'S face as she became the first English Paralympian to compete at an able-bodied event on Monday.  BROWN (ENG) finished the qualifications with a score of 676 to be ranked 14th in the Women's Individual Compound event, at the Yamuna Sports Complex. Today she won her two individual matches against June McGREGOR (NZL) and the No. 3 seed Claudine JENNINGS (SCO) 4-2 (57-58, 57-55, 56-55). The second match was decided one point only in the third set. Still BROWN is trying not to put too much emphasis on her achievement. “Competing in this event is pretty exciting but I haven't made a big fuss over it," she said.  "For me, I'm trying not to get over-excited because I don't want to put myself under any additional pressure. I did not want. I did not shoot so well in qualifications and I was not feeling very good this morning when I woke up. I am glad I could put that behind me and I shot very consistently today with ends of 55, 56, 57. I hope to continue making strong shots the following days."   The 22-year-old suffers from a condition known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy [RSD] which causes immense pain in her feet, and competes using a purpose-built stool.   She won a gold medal at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing and could be a medal chance in Delhi, but says for now she is just enjoying the experience. "It's fantastic, I love being part of the Games and part of the team," she said. "I love learning about other sports in the Games as well." Still she said “my Olympic experience can be a little advantage. A big competition is always a big competition and now I have had a few with the Paralympics, para-archery world championships and the World Cup Stage in Shanghai with the able-archers. For a compound archer, the Paralympic experience is helping me here because I know how it is to be three weeks in the Games Village”   Danielle's participation coincides with the return of archery after a 28-year hiatus and, with the sport not featuring at Glasgow 2014, she is focused on making the most of her chance here. "For me this is the biggest able-bodied event I could participate in so far. It could well be an opportunity of a lifetime," she said. She did not expect “so much media and TV attention on me. It is a bit strange, but it is good practice for the Paralympic Games in London 2012.”   Aside from BROWN's achievement, the England team will be lining up for a shot at a medal in the Women's Team Compound event. The trio, made up of BROWN, Nicky HUNT and Nichola SIMPSON, secured the number two ranking behind Canada ahead of Wednesday's Team Elimination rounds. "I'm ranked at 14, and we were ranked second as a team. It's a really good place to be," said Danielle.   BROWN is nevertheless not the first para-archer to compete at the Commonwealth Games. In fact, Neroli FAIRHALL (NZL) won gold in individual recurve women during the 1982 edition in Brisbane. She made this exploit as a para-athlete in a wheelchair winning the competition against able-bodied archers!   Will BROWN make it all the way as well?

  World Archery Communication Source GNS Commonwealth Games