Noziglia beats defending champion Bjorklund to World Games title

Thirty-two year-old Cinzia Noziglia, from Italy, won the barebow women’s title at the 2017 World Games in Wroclaw, Poland, beating the defending World Games Champion from barebow powerhouse Sweden, Lina Bjorklund, by four points in the final.

“Right now, I just have to realise that I won,” said Cinzia, overwhelmed. “It was beautiful! The field was nicely set-up and great to shoot.”

Noziglia found herself five points down after the first target, 16-11, but quickly found the middle to shorten Bjorklund’s lead to two. A strong third target flipped the advantage.

“The last target was probably the hardest because it was small, but the distance to shoot from was long. Just as over these past three days, things during practice were working well – and that’s what I focused on. I tried to calm down and shoot the best I know,” she explained. “It worked.”

Lina opened the fourth and final target with a four. Then shot a couple of two’s. Noziglia landed a pair of threes and a four – to win the match 49-45.

Second seed Tina Gutman and fourth seed Martina Mackova shot for bronze.

Mackova, representing the Czech Republic, took an 18-15 lead after the first target and never let off. The 54-year-old took the match, 51-41.

“This medal is a dream come true. I don’t care about the colour because it’s just incredible,” said Martina, a former recurve archer.

“In 2008, I had an injury that stopped my dream of making it to the Olympics that year in Beijing. Winning [bronze] today is the recompense for that other dream I couldn’t achieve.”

The barebow field archery competitions at the 2017 World Games run 26-28 July in Wroclaw, Poland.