China’s He Zihao, the top seed in the compound men’s competition at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, dominated the eliminations arena, beating the Games record in three consecutive matches on his way to individual gold.
“It is actually my second gold medal, so I am not so excited as when I won the first,” said the 27-year-old, who already took the mixed team title here in Tokyo.
“But I’m still glad to get this gold medal for my country. I’m really proud.”
Zihao matched the standing Paralympic record of 146 points for the 15-arrow, 50-metre match in his second match, a seven-point win over Japan’s Leon Miyamoto.
He then shot back-to-back 148s to beat Turkey’s Murat Turan by three and Slovakia’s Marcel Pavlik by two.
It set up a final against the second seed, Ramezan Biabani, which also fell in the Chinese favourite's favour, 147-143.
“He worked harder than me and achieved what he wanted,” said runner-up Biabani.
“I will work hard so that everyone will look at me in the same way [as He] and will say, ‘this is a very hard-working archer’.”
The 42-year-old claimed that, at the next Paralympics, he would “definitely take gold”.
China took a second spot on the compound men’s podium after Ai Xinliang, who lost his semifinal to Biabani, defeated Marcel Pavlik in the third-place play-off, 144-142.
With three gold medals and only four events remaining, China is looking the odds-on favourite to lead archery’s medal table at these Paralympics.
The evening session on 31 August was postponed due to inclement weather, meaning that the competition will resume with the W1 women’s finals in the morning of Wednesday 1 September 2021.
