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Roberta Di Francesco, Andres Temiño Mediel top qualifying at Taranto 2026

26 August 2026

Taranto, Italy

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Local favourite Roberta Di Francesco held off a strong international field to top the recurve women's qualifying at the Taranto 2026 XX Mediterranean Games on Wednesday.

The Italian shot 659 to take the top seed by a single point ahead of Spain's Elia Canales, the 2026 European Outdoor Championships silver medallist, who finished on 658.

Di Francesco, ranked 13th in the world and an individual and team gold medallist at the 2024 World Archery Field Championships, recorded 20 tens and nine Xs across the 72-arrow ranking round.

Türkiye's 17-year-old Dunya Yenihayat, who led the field after the opening 36 arrows with 331, finished third on 656. Her round featured 24 tens, the most by any archer in the qualifying.

Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Lisa Barbelin finished eighth after shooting 640 in the ranking round.

The recurve men's qualifying featured several familiar names at the top of the leaderboard, with reigning World Archery Champion Andres Temiño Mediel of Spain taking pole position with 664.

Despite shooting a seven with his final arrow, Temiño Mediel comfortably held onto the top seed, finishing eight points clear of the field.

Türkiye’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion and former Mediterranean Games winner Mete Gazoz shot 14 Xs on his way to 656 and second place.

Italy's Matteo Borsani, winner at the Chengdu 2025 World Games, recovered from a slow start to finish third on 655, three points ahead of France's Thomas Chirault, the Paris 2024 Olympic team silver medallist.

Competition at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games continues with the individual and mixed team eliminations on Thursday.