Team Paralympic quotas have been won!

Teams belong to the open category, which means that they can be made up of archers both from the W1/W2 and the standing category, in accordance with every team captain's decision. Every team has three members, usually chosen by the three highest scores shot in the qualification round. However, other changes are possible until the beginning of the first elimination round.   In the elimination matches every team shoots 24 arrows, six during four ends, to get to the next elimination round. The team with the best final score out of the 24 arrows wins.   Recurve Men Team OpenThe recurve men’s teams had to first win the 1/8 elimination round to have a chance to gain a Paralympic quota. Countries who succeeded in this challenge were Russia (over Brazil 217-182 pts), China (over Spain 192-186 pts), Iran (over Thailand 209-179 pts), Great Britain (over 197-196 pts), Poland (over France 200-197 pts), Ukraine (over Malaysia 200-184 pts), Korea (over India 213-187 pts) and Italy (over Turkey 188-181 pts). The host country started the match with a good end (10-8-7-7-X-10), scoring 52 points against Turkey’s 46 (8-8-8-8-6-8). Despite many arrows in the red and blue rings, Italy held the lead over Turkey at 97 (9-8-7-7-6-7) to 92 (9-7-9-8-7-6). In the third end the weak performance of the Italians let the Turkish team go three points ahead, leading 141-138 (8-8-7-8-8-10 to 8-7-6-7-6-7). At the end, Italy won the match 188-181 (9-9-7-9-7-9 to 6-7-5-10-7-5 in the fourth end) to met Korea in the 1/4 elimination round.   After a good start from both sides, Italy was winning over Korea 50-48 (8-9-9-8-9-7, 8-7-10-8-7-8), but the Koreans kept shooting consistently and took the lead after the second end 102-99 (10-8-9-9-9-9 to 8-9-9-8-8-7). On the third end the Italians shot a 6 that let the Koreans go seven points ahead 155-148 (8-9-9-6-9-8 to 8-9-9-9-10-8). Despite shooting an arrow in the 5-ring, Korea won the match 202-195 (7-5-8-9-9-10 to 7-9-7-9-8-7). The match between Russia and China was also notable. The two teams tied after the first end 50-50, but the Russians soon took the lead 104-101 (10-9-9-9-9-8 to 9-10-7-9-9-7). Things changed after the third end when China went four points ahead (162-158). However, the Russians shot a very good last end to win 214-208. Great Britain also beat Iran (51-45, 103-95, 153-145, 202-195) and Ukraine won over Poland (51-47, 98-92, 151-142, 196-186).   Four Paralympic team quota places out of the available six were therefore gained by the teams reaching the semifinals (Russia, Korea, Ukraine and Great Britain, which were not qualified automatically). So the remaining two quota places had to be assigned to the losers with the top scores. The best losing team was China (208 points). The second best team had to be decided by a Paralympic play-off match between Italy and Iran, as they both shot 195 points in the quarterfinals. Iran took the lead immediately 55-51 (7-9-10-10-X-9, 9-8-9-7-8-X) and kept it until the end of the match despite the cheers of the Italians fans, 103-98, 152-145, 205-194. Iran gained the last Paralympic quota!   In the semifinals Russia (No 1) met Great Britain (No 4). After the first two sets, Russia led by four points over the British (53-50, 107-103). On the third end the Russians went 10 points ahead, 163-153, shooting a 56 (9-10-X-9-9-9) against a 50 (7-7-X-8-9-9). They kept this advantage until the end (214-203). The match between Ukraine (No 6) and Korea (No 2) was tighter. There was just a 1-point gap between the two teams in the first two ends to Korea: 48-47 (8-8-8-8-7-9 to 8-6-7-9-9-8) and 98-97 (7-10-8-9-9-7 to 8-9-8-9-8-9). After the third end the Koreans spread their wings and increased their advantage until the end (150-145, 195-189).   The bronze medal between Ukraine and Great Britain was a thriller! Ukraine had an uncertain start and trailed by 10 points after the first end (54-44) and 12 after the second one (104-92). A 4 shot by the British team reduced the gap to four points at the end of the third end (147-143). On the fourth end Great Britain shot 8-6-10-8-9-6 and Ukraine miraculously tied the match at 194-194, shooting 9-8-7-9-10-8. Ukraine shot the three shoot off arrows very quickly (8-10-6) putting a lot of pressure on the Britons, who shot 6-7-7 to lose the match.   The gold final will take place Sunday 17 July between Russia and Korea.   Recurve Women Team OpenFour was the number of Paralympic quotas available for the recurve women’s teams. Those who advanced to the semifinals gained their quota.   In the 1/8 elimination round Poland won over Italy (184-173 pts), Japan over the USA (186-160 pts) and Great Britain over Russia (184-152 pts). The match between Ukraine and Czech Republic was a tighter one. The two teams first tied 46-46, and then Czech Republic went just one point ahead 89-88. On the third end they both shot 43 points, but Czech Republic kept a 1-point lead 132-131, scoring 9-8-8-7-6-5 to 8-8-8-7-6-6. However, due to a missed arrow on the Czech target in the last end, Ukraine won the match 173-167 (9-8-7-6-6-6 to 9-7-7-6-5-M in the fourth).   In the 1/4 elimination round Korea, Turkey, Iran and China managed to gain the Paralympic team quotas! Korea won easily over Japan (51-41, 89-72, 135-114, 182-153), as did China over Ukraine (49-40, 104-86, 154-125, 201-167) and Iran over Great Britain (48-50, 91-84, 140-129, 192-170). The Poland v. Turkey match was a bit tighter 40-53, 84-99, 134-151, 182-199.   In the semifinals Turkey trailed Korea all the time. The Koreans kept increasing their lead with most of their arrows in the gold rings (52-48, 104-86, 150-130, 200-172). The other semifinal between Iran and China was quite thrilling. China took the lead shooting a 52 against a 49 and kept a one-point-lead until the end of the second end (102-101). In the third end China shot a 6 and let Iran lead by four points (151-155). However, in the final end the Iranians shot a 3 costing them the match! China won 202-199!   The bronze final was a tight one between Turkey and Iran. Both teams shot a 6 in the first end, but Turkey led 48-47. Iran kept trailing in the second and third ends (91-99, 141-143), but in the final end Turkey shot a 5. This let Iran post a come-back victory 190-181 (9-10-9-7-7-7 to 7-6-7-7-6-5 in the last end). Bronze medal for Iran!   The gold final will take place Sunday 17 July between Korea and China.   Rebecca RABOZZI World Archery Communication