He beat Galsan Bazarzhapov in the first round, 6-4, then upset sixth seed Xing Yu in the second. D’Almedia qualified 27th, 21 places lower than Xing, on the ranking round earlier in the week.
The Aquece Rio International Archery Challenge is the test event for the 2016 Olympic Games and run to a similar schedule.
Athletes shoot their first two matches during three days of eliminations, then the third round to finals are decided in one day of tense competition.
Marcus’ first match was his toughest. He was playing catch-up through the first four sets, never edging ahead of his Russian opponent, but went into the last with the match at a draw. His fifth three-arrow series was a perfect 30, 10-10-10, and D’Almeida advanced.
The underdog against China’s Xing Yu, who had a first round bye after ranking sixth in qualification, Marcus looked every bit the favourite.
Buoyed by cheers from a volunteer, team and local observer crowd on a day of competition not open to the public, he lost the first set by a point then won the next three to take the match, 6-2.
“Wow! I enjoyed that match,” Marcus said after leaving the arena. “I enjoyed hearing my people in the stands. They gave me the strength. Rio 2016 is going to be different for Brazil.”
Marcus D’Almeida’s individual campaign at the first big international event in Brazil continues on Tuesday 22 September, when he faces Indian Olympian Jayanta Talukdar in the third round.
