The day dedicated to the round of 32 of the women’s and men’s Compound Open concluded. In the morning, Italy saw Eleonora Sarti advance to the round of 16 in the all-Italian match with her teammate Giulia Pesci (136-126). In the afternoon, the reigning world champion Matteo Bonacina’s run stopped, overtaken by the Iranian Hadi Nori 139-141. The first medals will be awarded tomorrow: Italy’s podium hopes are represented in the morning by Asia Pellizzari and Daila Dameno in W1 and by Eleonora Sarti in the compound in the afternoon.
SARTI WINS THE DERBY WITH FISH
The Paris Paralympic Games have churned out the first succulent dishes, in the “starred restaurant” set up on the Esplanade des Invalides. After the appetizer of the ranking round and the 72 arrows, the time for decisive challenges is already ripe. Like the Italian derby, valid for the round of 32 of the women’s Compound Open. Derby that smiles on Eleonora Sarti: the athlete from Cattolica wins the match against her national teammate – and opponent for one day – Giulia Pesci. And thus enters the round of 16: 136-126 the score to be consigned to the archives. But Pesci, who obtained the Paralympic pass thanks to the success in the qualifying tournament in Dubai where he won the final valid for the pass against the Italian bronze medalist at Tokyo 2020, Maria Andrea Virgilio, comes out with his head held high. And he started very well, so much so that he closed the first volley (26-24) and second volley (52-51) ahead. Sarti, however, grows at a distance: he makes the overtaking in the third chapter of the match, while the fourth volley is simply perfect with a trio of 10s. At that point, the gap becomes important and, in the final, Eleonora manages the reassuring advantage and prepares to experience the round of 16: tomorrow afternoon, at 3.30 pm, against the Indian Sarita, capable of overcoming (138-124) Nur Jannaton Abdul Jalil, a Malaysian athlete.
“Unfortunately we met immediately – is Giulia Pesci’s comment -. Being friends, national team and team mates, it was not easy to interpret the challenge. As for me, I didn’t shoot to the best of my ability, but the emotion was intense. An emotion that involved me in the entire Paralympics and is impossible to describe: this is not a simple competition, but a world apart.”
Sarti, on the other hand, is having his third experience at the Games: “After Tokyo, I changed coach, sports psychologist and embarked on a different path. Additionally, I was lucky enough to join the Defense Paralympic Sports Group. And this gave me the opportunity to train consistently, even several times a day. I don’t know how it will end, but I’m happy with everything I’ve done up to this point.”
The one in blue sauce was a challenge within the challenge: “When the coach announced the derby to us, I thought he was joking – concludes Eleonora -. I would have liked to meet Giulia at the end, not at the beginning of the Games. We shared many aspects with her: starting with the preparation.”
BONACINA STOPPED BY NORI
It’s a bitter afternoon at the Esplanade des Invalides for the blue colours: Matteo Bonacina, in fact, leaves the scene in the Compound Open. And he lost to the Iranian Hadi Nori, in the duel valid for access to the round of 16: the final result was 139-141 in favor of the Iranian.
A real shame, also because Matteo’s start is exciting: four arrows shot and 40 points on the scoreboard. The best. Then, in the central part of the match, the player from Bergamo scores a long series of 9s: eight in sequence. And Nori took advantage of it: after finishing the first volley two points down, he came close in the second (58-57), made an impact in the third (at 85) and overtook in the fourth and penultimate (112-113). Bonacina doesn’t give up: in the final volley, she finds the center of the target again, but the penultimate arrow lands on the 8. And it will prove fatal.
There is little doubt about the fact that the one with the Iranian was one of the most uncomfortable encounters that could have occurred in the first round, if we consider the depth of an experienced opponent who has been a protagonist on an international level several times. Even at the Paralympics: “It went badly, I’m sorry – says Bonacina, in the analysis -. I haven’t been able to put all the hard work of these years to good use. It looks like I’ll have to work even harder.” Yet Matteo’s approach proved to be impeccable: “Maybe I got a little nervous and started to go around the center of the target. Instead of thinking about the aspects to improve, I should have turned my head off and focused exclusively on the shot, like I did at the beginning.” There is no shortage of regret: “In particular for how I managed the final part. If I could go back, I would change something. But, in preparation, I really did everything I could to be ready.”
Not the hoped-for epilogue, therefore, for the reigning world champion (gold in Pilsen, Czech Republic, in 2023). However, the Paris Paralympics does not end with the individual path. Bonacina will be back on stage in the mixed team, together with Eleonora Sarti. The appointment is for Monday 2 September (4.30 pm), when the Azzurri will face Malaysia (Abdul Jalil, Govinda Rajan): “Now we must get over the disappointment – concludes Matteo -. Then, starting tonight, try the mixed team, hoping to get a better result.”
PLAN
Tomorrow, Saturday 31 August, the first archery medals will be awarded in the women’s W1 and Compound Open divisions. Asia Pellizzari and Daila Dameno will be on the firing line in the morning for the W1 race, while Eleonora Sarti will be the protagonist in the Compound in the afternoon.
Asia Pellizzari in the round of 16 with Misir (Tur) at 9:00 and Daila Dameno in the quarterfinals with Brandtlova (Cze) at 9:51. Followed by the semi-finals from 10.59am, the final for
bronze at 11.48am and the final for gold at 12.05pm.
Eleonora Sarti will take the field in the round of 16 with Sarita (Ind) at 3.30 pm. The quarter-finals are scheduled from 5.46pm, followed by the semi-finals at 6.54pm and the final for the bronze at 7.43pm and the final for the gold at 8.00pm.
The competitions will be broadcast live on Rai 2.
