For the first time at an international archery event, the Iraqi anthem was played for individual winner.
Fatimah Almashhadani, who made her first final at the Antalya Archery World Cup stage in 2014, won compound cadet women’s gold at the 2015 World Archery Youth Championships in Yankton, USA.
For much of the match, it looked like it would be Evelien Groeneveld that would climb to the top of the podium.
“During the match I was just imagining my flag, my country and despite the fact I wasn’t winning, I knew I could turn it around,” said Fatimah.
Trailing by four points with three arrows remaining in regulation, Evelien – who had been solid throughout – put all three of hers into the red.
Fatimah forced a shoot-off.
“I guess it was the tension,” said Groeneveld. “Something for me to work on for next time.”
“The shoot-off was better than the last round but just not enough.”
She put her arrow clearly in the nine, while Fatimah’s was just touching the edge of the 10.
Just moments later, Iraq’s first individual archery gold medallist on the world stage had her fist clamped to her chest as the Iraqi anthem was played proudly throughout the arena.
The USA’s Dahlia Crook had bronze.
Hungary’s Viktor Orosz won the compound cadet men’s title in Yankton. He beat Serdar Bortay Maras, from Turkey, by a sound 10 points in the final.
Surprisingly, all Viktor could mention after the match was his first arrow, which landed in the nine. “I couldn’t understand what happened,” he said, but fortunately the Hungarian soon found the middle.
James Howse, from Great Britain, took an emotional bronze – to go with the team silver he had collected earlier in the morning and mixed team bronze earlier in the week. He shot three perfect ends throughout the match.
“My goal was to shoot clean shots,” said Howse. “And the medal would follow. It did!”
