Paralympic play-off: Elisabetta MIJNO (ITA) goes to London

    The play-off tournament for the last quota available in Recurve Women W1/W2 was played between KI Jinzhi (CHN), Mariangela PERNA (ITA), Miroslava CERNA (CZE), Kate MURRAY (GBR), Elisabetta MIJNO (ITA) photo, Noor Saadah ABD WAHAB (MAS), Maria DROSTE (GER), Zinyat VALIYEVA (AZE). The warm-up started at 8:45 on Sunday morning and the competition at 9:45.   In the quarterfinals LI Jinzhi (CHN) and Elisabetta MIJNO (ITA) won their match 6-0 against Mariangela PERNA (ITA) and Noor Saadah ABD WAHAB (MAS) respectively. Five sets were not enough for Maria DROSTE (GER) and Zinyat VALIYEVA (AZE), whose match ended with a tie: 2-0, 4-0, 4-2, 5-3, 5-5. During the shoot-off VALIYEVA shot a 2, so DROSTE easily clinched victory with a 9. Kate MURRAY (GBR) won 7-3 over the Czech Miroslava CERNA.   In semifinal MIJNO met DROSDE and won quickly in just three sets (6-0). Instead the match between LI and MURRAY went to a final shoot-off. LI won the first set (2-0) and MURRAY the second (2-2) and the third one (2-4). They tied on the fourth set (3-5) and LI won the fifth one (5-5) tying the match. In the tie-break MURRAY shot a 9 while LI won the shoot-off with a perfect 10.   MURRAY and DROSTE played a match for the 3rd place—just for the ranking. The British archer took the lead 2-0 and 4-0 but DROSTE slowed down her rush winning 2 set points in the third set (4-2). Anyway MURRAY did not let the German come back further and clinched the match 6-2.   LI Jinzhi (CHN) and Elisabetta MIJNO (ITA) played the final of this tournament on the world championships finals field! They still played on the best of five sets.   MIJNO finished the first set with 10! She took a 2-0 lead and the fans cheered loud! However, LI came back in the second set with 10-9-9. Match tied at 2-2. MINJO dropped a 5 in the third set, thus letting her opponent take it with 10-8-10. LI lead 4-2. The Italian started the fourth set with a 6, but LI did the same (her arrow was high in the target)! Then MINJO found a 10, while LI scored another 6 (this time low in the target). MINJO clinched the fourth set, and the match was tied at 4-4.   The final set would decide of the last Paralympic quota available at the World Archery Para Championships Turin 2011! LI made it easy for her opponent with 8-3-10. MINJO did no mistake scoring a superb 9-10-9. Victory and Paralympic quota for Italy!   World Archery Communication