D’Amour makes four-athlete list for universality tickets to Tokyo 2020

Bangladesh, Chad, Malawi and the US Virgin Islands have been awarded the four universality places for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

These tripartite invitations are given to developing, growing and smaller nations in the sport that show significant promise. Invitees must still meet the minimum qualifying standard for the Games.

Nicholas D’Amour, the recurve men’s world number nine, is one of the recipients.

“I deserve it because of all the success I had this year and there is more to come,” he said. “I’m getting stronger and stronger, I’m training harder and harder. Definitely, I will be looking for a good success in Tokyo and I’m capable of having some success there.”

The 19-year-old was a favourite to win a quota outright at the final qualifier but was upset by Moldova’s Dan Olaru.

Having already secured a final four on the Hyundai Archery World Cup circuit this year, in Lausanne, D’Amour’s inclusion in the 128-athlete line at Tokyo 2020 is intriguing because he has medal potential.

Malawi’s Areneo David and Chad’s Marlyse Hourtou have both been part of the resident athlete programme at the World Archery Excellence Centre. They graduate to Tokyo.

The last quota went to Bangladesh’s Diya Siddique.

She and Ruman Shana recently secured their nation’s best-ever result on the international archery stage, taking mixed team silver at the second stage of the 2021 Hyundai Archery World Cup.

They now have a mixed team in Tokyo.

The announcement completes the archery quota line-up for the upcoming Olympic Games. Nations now need to accept the places.

Universality tickets for Tokyo 2020

•  Bangladesh – Diya Siddique (women)
•  Chad – Marlyse Hourtou (women)
•  Malawi – Areneo David (men)
•  US Virgin Islands – Nicholas D’Amour (men)