Loginova, Franchini To Take First Shots at Indoor World Gold

On her 10th international archery anniversary, Albina Loginova beat Toja Cerne from Slovenia, 144-146, to make her first ever world indoor final.

An emotional Albina managed to explain what the achievement means in her career: “This is my first chance to become indoor champion! It’s just an amazing feeling.”

Two-time an outdoor World Archery Champion, Albina has won two international indoor medals with the Russian compound women’s team. One a silver at Las Vegas 2012 and one gold at the Europeans in Kopel, Slovenia in 2015.

In Ankara, she had an inner fight to win: Her own self control.

“This wasn’t easy. Every match I shot this afternoon was hard,” she said. “Until my last arrow against Toja, I knew I was fighting not against her but against myself.”

During the quarters, Albina shot against Eleonora Sarti from Italy. With one end to go, Albina was leading by three. In the last end, Albina shot 10,9 and 8, while Sarti closed with a perfect 30 to tie the contest and force a tiebreaker. The Russian archer had no explanation for that eight.

“I was so surprised. I don’t know what happened and I was saying to myself: ‘No, no, Albina. Come on! You have this, you can do it! You know how to shoot a shoot-off,” she explained.

The pep talk worked. Both Sarti and Albina shot a nine, but Albina’s was closer to the centre of the target. She advanced, made it past Toja – and into the Ankara 2016 final.

Before that gold medal match on Sunday, she has team matches. She also wants some time to relax.

“I hope to have a rest, I need it. Is not about feeling physically tired,” Albina explained. “It’s my mind that needs to rest and tomorrow I want to give it all with my teammates.”

“We want to win.”

Albina will meet Irene Franchini in a match in which the Italian athlete will look to make her first world podium finish a win.

“I felt good with my shooting and the results, although I was nervous and had some nines,” she said.

Irene started this year’s indoor campaign with a silver in Nimes. In Ankara she wants gold, although she is aware of Albina’s experience and the challenge the final will pose.

“Both Albina and I did well today and she has a lot of experience in these kinds of situations, but this is the right place for me to win,” she said, giving a small grin!

The bronze medal match will be decided between Toja Cerne and Sarah Prieels.