Musilova sets new world mark as Czech Republic and China dominate W1 qualifying

Sarka Pultar Musilova and Zhang Tianxin seeded first in W1 qualifying at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. 

The Czech archer topped the ranking with a new world record of 659 points, improving by two the previous mark of Jessica Stretton.

“It means that hard work pays off, but that’s only the first step,” she said after her emotional celebration in the field. 

Musilova had no awareness that she was chasing the record.

“I didn’t know,” she claimed. “And I wouldn’t have wanted to know!”

The 33-year-old might take the path to set a rematch of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games final when she lost to Chen Minyi. The defending champion seeded second in Paris today with a new personal best of 650 (and a result better than her Paralympic record set in Tokyo).

The top two outran fellow athletes, the third-best result by Kim Ok Geum standing at 623.

Despite a new world record, Musilova tones down the enthusiasm. 

“We came for it here, but the next result won’t be the world record. The elimination rounds come, and that counts,” she claimed. 

“I know that with my best shooting, I can do well. Of course, the world record is one part of a right mindset.”

Zhang took the top seed in W1 men’s qualifying as he broke the Paralympic record by 13 points. The Chinese archer shot 674 and clearly topped the result list. 

“The attitude is really great, and it allowed me to have a great performance today,” he said. “I really focused on the movement and my process during the practice. I didn’t think too much about the result.”

Bahattin Hekimoğlu of Türkiye came in second, followed by the defending champion, David Drahoninsky of Czech Republic. 

Zhang medalled three years ago in Tokyo, but only in the mixed team competition alongside Chen. They defeated Musilova and Drahoninksy in the final.

The top seed refrained from previewing the outcome. He focuses on the process, rather than results. 

“It’s difficult to say. There’re a lot of elements that might be out of my control,” Zhang said.

China and Czech Republic were the top seeds in the W1 mixed team qualifying. The Chinese duo of Minyi and Zhang set a new Paralympic record, too.

The elimination and medal matches in W1 take place on Saturday. 

Competition at the Paris 2024 Paralympics continues with recurve and compound qualifying in the afternoon. 

Top seeds: 2024 Paralympics

Full results on the event page.

• W1 men: Zhang Tianxin, China – 674 (Paralympic record)
• W1 women: Sarka Pultar Musilova, Czech Republic – 659 (Paralympic and world record)
• W1 mixed team: Chen Minyi and Zhang Tianxin, China – 1324 (Paralympic record)