Egypt Qualifies 2 at Rio 2016 African Qualification Tournament

The African Archery Championships in Windhoek, Namibia acted as the continental qualification tournament for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The top three archers, representing nations with no qualified places, took spots for their nations – up to a maximum of one female and one male place.

With the conclusion of the quarterfinals, the places were decided.

Egypt dominated the recurve men’s competition, putting three athletes into the final four and securing a men’s place, while Hania Fouda’s quarterfinal 6-0 win over South Africa’s Karen Hultzer took the corresponding women’s quota spot. (She was one of two Egyptian women to make the semis.)

South Africa did find success in the men’s event. Terence van Moerkerken was the fourth finalist, joining the triplet of Egyptian athletes. That was enough to take the second quota place available.

Gavin Sutherland qualified Zimbabwe its first Olympic archery place by finishing as the fifth recurve man in the tournament. 

If the spot is accepted, could become the first Zimbabwean archer to compete at a Games since Wrex Tarr in 1988. (The National Olympic Committee must first select the archer to take the place.)

“This will have a positive impact on our sport. The Zimbabwe ambassador visited the competition and committed to allocating a first archery ground,” said Sutherland, who won the 1995 African Championships as a junior and has been a professional cyclist.

Gavin currently resides in the UK.

“With my job as an electrician I have little time to train. Including set-up, I have three hours on Wednesday, two on Thursday and up to three on Sunday. To prepare, I’ve been simulating 70 metres by setting two targets, one above the other, with a high target face.”

The other two women’s places went to Kenya’s Shehzana Anwar and Cote d’Ivoire’s Carla Frangilli. Kenya last had an Olympic archer in 2000, while Frangilli won Cote d’Ivoire its first women’s spot after Rene Kouassi competed at London 2012.

“I did not expect to win,” said Anwar, also known as Kuki. “Back home I will set my mind and life, as I will need professional help to preapre for the Olympics. Hopefully this win will allow archery to be recognised in Kenya.”