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Nine countries qualify for Paris as first Paralympic quotas won in Pilsen

19 July 2023

Pilsen, Czech Republic

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Tomohiro Ueyama celebrates winning a Paralympic quota place.

Athletes from Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, India, Iran, Italy, Japan and Korea collected the first available quota places for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games during Wednesday’s mixed team eliminations at the 2023 World Archery Para Championships in Pilsen.

The top four teams – semifinalists – in each of the three competition categories (recurve, compound and W1) qualified spots.

China was the big winner, securing a full slate of six tickets to Paris, followed by Italy with four – in the recurve and W1 events – with all the other nations collecting early invites in just one competition.

“This was my objective,” said top compound men’s seed Ai Xinliang. “I wasn’t sure I’d get it before I arrived. But on this field, I felt better during practice. I’m extra happy now!”

Host nation star David Drahoninsky was crying after securing the ticket for the Czech Republic.

“I’m super, super, super, super happy,” he said. “I had some bad arrows to make it more nervous for our fans, but I’m very happy.”

“Everything else is just a great bonus.”

Drahoninsky and Tereza Brandtlova will face Italy in the W1 mixed team final on Sunday morning in Pilsen. The Italian recurve mixed team and China will contest the recurve title later the same day, while India and Brazil – a surprise line-up – shoot for compound mixed team gold on Saturday.

Competition continues on Thursday in Pilsen with individual and team eliminations.