Italy’s Rebagliati looking to add to field titles in Alabama
Today is a big day for Italian recurve woman Chiara Rebagliati at the 2022 World Games.
She seeded an impressive third in qualification yesterday, but in the realm of the World Games on the field course, that meant no shortcut to the semifinals.
Unlike the top two seeds, Germany’s Elisa Tartler and Great Britain’s Bryony Pitman (who was very relieved to finish in second, just one point ahead of Rebagliati, on 353), the Italian world number 22 will now have to wait until just before midday to see who she will play in her final shoot-up pool game – essentially a quarterfinal in all but name.
“For me, field is important and I will try to do my best,” said the 25-year-old during qualification. “I will keep my fingers crossed. I do not say anything about winning or a medal.”
“It was a very good field. The weather is particular, like in Italy where it is very warm. The field was short and we went quickly.”
The course set within Avondale Park in Birmingham, Alabama has drawn praise from many of the archers shooting there. It’s not-too-steep inclines and closeness with the involvement of fans have been particularly welcomed.
Rebagliati arrived in the USA fresh off a team silver at the Mediterranean Games where she shot the target, now switched to field for her first international in the discipline in four years.
Field is a discipline of the sport she knows well, enjoys and has had considerable success in. She won youth gold at the 2016 World Archery Field Championships and is the current European Champion. Despite her experience, this event in Birmingham marks a new stop on her archery journey.
“It is the first time that I am at the World Games. It is a little bit different than a world or European championship,” she explained.
“I try to pay attention to every single arrow and do my best. This year it was a bit difficult because we had a lot of competitions – World Cups, European Grand Prix – but every year I try to train of field because it is a very good way to improve also target archery.”
Archers who shoot field learn more about the reaction of their arrow in varying conditions, dark and light, inclines and all kinds of wind.
“It is very important to try to do field as you can improve 70 metre shooting or indoor,” continued Rebagliati. “Of course, it is different to the target competition. After every target you have to restart, change your mentality and do your best. It is more dynamic than target archery [where] you go to 70 metres and come back. Here it is different. I really like this kind of competition.”
Competition continues at the World Games with recurve shoot-up eliminations on Monday.
