Iranian men recover from rough start to win compound team title at para worlds

Iran’s Hadi Nori, Alisina Manshaezadeh and Ramezan Biabani beat Turkey’s Erdogan Aygan, Bulent Korkmaz and Murat Turan, 222-219, to the gold medal in the compound men’s team final at the 2019 World Archery Para Championships in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.

“I'm very happy because two years ago, at the world para championships in China, we lost the match by only one point,” said Nori. “This time we decided we were going to get the gold medal.”

The Iranian men started loose, shooting 52 points for the first end.

But then the Turkish squad did the same in the second, giving Iran an easy chance to recover – and even take the lead, 109-108, at the halfway point. They were tied after 18 arrows, as well, 165 points apiece.

It came down to the last end. Iran shot 57 out of the possible 60 points – to Turkey’s 54 – and celebrated.

“In the first end, because of the windy and rainy weather, we couldn't aim very well. But after that, we said we had to win gold. We had to adapt to these conditions,” said Nori.

China’s men’s team beat new world record holder Ukraine by 10 points, 220-210, to claim bronze.

The Chinese compound women’s open team and compound open mixed team won world titles. The women beat Great Britain, 226-224, while the mixed team dispatched Russia, 149-148.

“I am really grateful to win a second gold medal in one day. I want to thank my coach and my teammate. He was absolutely fantastic in the competition,” said Zhou Jiamin, the Rio 2016 Paralympic Champion who shot in both of those events.

The 2019 World Archery Para Championships take place on 3-9 June in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.