Challenging weather during qualifying at Asia Cup in Iraq

The qualifying field in Iraq.

Uzbekistan’s Amirkhan Sadikov (673), Iran’s Mahta Abdollahi (641) and Indian compound duo Prathamesh Bhalchandra Fuge (697) and Parneet Kaur (690) took top seeds after difficult conditions during qualifying at the second leg of the Asia Cup in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq.

Rain and thunderstorms had been forecast in Sulaymaniyah at the start of the day – before hot and sunny conditions set in later in the day. For both environments, umbrellas were an essential piece of equipment.

“I tried my best in these conditions. It was a little cold, windy and rainy – all types of weather today,” said India’s Kaur, who shot 690 of a possible 720 points for the 72-arrow 50-metre qualifying round to lead the compound women. “I pulled myself together and tried to shoot my best, it is not my personal best, but I felt good competing here.”

Her teammate, Prathamesh Bhalchandra Fuge, topped the compound men with 697 but said more was to come in his debut continental competition.

“It’s my first international event,” he said. “It’s not my personal best, but I am still trying.”

Abdohllahi, the top seed in the recurve women’s event, had a personal best with her 641.

Competition at the world-ranking event continues with team eliminations on Sunday.

Top seeds: Sulaymaniyah 2022

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