Mather, Chaloupsky strike gold
Brazilian Silva teams up with Simonelli to bag top honours at Para Archery World Ranking tournament
Dubai: American Kevin Mather teamed up with Martin Chaloupsky of Slovakia while Joao Ivison Carneiro Silva joined hands with Alberto ‘Rolly’ Simonelli to claim gold medals on the penultimate day of the Fourth Para Archery World Ranking Tournament at the Dubai Club for People of Determination (DCPD) on Tuesday.
Called ‘Beach Boys’, Mather and his Slovak partner beat off the odds to win 16-11 against ‘The Pair’ combination of Zaman Al Saedi of Iraq and her Thai teammate Hanreuchai Netsiri in the gold medal match for the Recurve Friendship Mixed Countries Team event.
Mather is in line for a second medal when he takes on Netsiri in the Recurve Men’s Open final on Wednesday. Trailing at the end of the first of four ends, Mather and Chaloupsky did well to outscore Al Saedi and Netsiri 126-123 in the end. “I couldn’t be happier at this result. After that first six that I shot I was shattered. But then on I thought this has to be a mental battle more than anything. I’ve got to control the bow and arrow as these are the two things that I have within my control. I brought in all my mental energy into the next three ends to make this medal happen,” the American narrated.
“There is going to be some sort of pressure tomorrow, but I would like this sort of atmosphere as it could bring the best out of me. I want to maintain the same sort of intensity,” he added.
Chaloupsky, who did not qualify for Wednesday’s final, was left beaming that he could go home with a gold medal. “I got eliminated during qualifying due to some minor mistakes along the way and that hurt. But now that I am leaving with a gold medal gives me immense joy,” he said.
I couldn’t be happier. After that first six that I shot I was shattered. But then on I thought this has to be a mental battle more than anything.”
Silva and Simonelli were equally thrilled after striking golf ahead of Jane Karla Gogel and Leon Miyamoto in the Compound Friendship Mixed Countries Team. “When you are in the company of the best in the world, it is difficult to make any mistakes. This is such a great honour for me to end with a gold medal in the company of a world record holder,” the Brazilian said.
Held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, the final day of competition will continue with a start at 10am on Wednesday with the Recurve Open Mixed Team.
The final day will witness a tussle for at least seven gold medals starting with the Recurve Open Mixed Team between Japan and Mongolia and concluding with the Compound Men’s and Women’s Open.
This year’s competition is being held as part of the ‘Year of Zayed’ marking 100 years since the birth of former President and Founder of the UAE, Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
