China wins second gold but Turkey sets Paralympic match record

Lin Yueshan and He Zihao edged Turkey by a point, 153-152, in the compound mixed team final to win China’s second gold medal in the first two events of the archery competitions at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Yueshan delivered the winning 10.

“I felt pretty calm actually, and I knew it was either winning or losing. There was nothing else I could do but focusing on the last arrow,” she said.

“I won an individual silver last time [at Rio 2016], and I always wanted to make up for that regret. I did it today so I’m very satisfied.”

Zihao added they were thrilled as they’d been practising for “400 days without almost any break only for this moment”.

The top-seeded pair in the tournament, China had little trouble in defeating France and Iran in the quarters and then semifinals.

But it was Turkey that arguably entered the final as the favourite.

Oznur Cure and Bulent Korkmaz shot a Paralympic record of 156 points for the 16-arrow mixed team match to beat an impressive RPC duo in the semifinals.

Turkey wouldn’t find the same pace in the final, failing to hit the 10 in the first end and falling into an early three-point hole.

But when China, then, failed to hit a maximum in the second, the scores levelled – and it would only be a single point difference in the third that ultimately would make the difference.

Both teams finished with two 10s in their last rotations of the tight final.

“In Rio, I actually made a promise,” said silver medallist Korkmaz. “To be better in the next Games in Tokyo. This is a result of working hard.”

The RPC took its second bronze medal of these Paralympic archery events.

Stepanida Artakhinova and Bair Shigaev shot a perfect 40 points in the third end to steam into a lead over Iran, eventually winning the match, and the last podium position, 153-151.

Competition continues in Tokyo on Monday 30 August with medals in the compound women’s and W1 men’s individual events.