If Italy won – again – the medal table of the 3D Archery World Championships, part of the credit also goes to Sagitta Arcieri Pesaro. Among the athletes awarded in Slovenia is Michela Donati, who won silver in the traditional arch. It’s the second time for her, already vice world champion in 2019 and also with a European gold and silver on her board. Maddalena Marcaccini’s performance was also excellent, at her third national team call-up in a row, who once again entered the top 10 of Arco compound, finishing ninth. “I didn’t start out very convinced because this year I changed the way I shot, so I had lost a bit of confidence – says Donati –. The first day of qualifying confirmed the swing, the second day went better. But the elimination phase shot started very badly: in the round of 16 I was already convinced that I was out, except that my opponent missed the last arrow and I, even though she was ranting about the mistake, didn’t let myself be distracted, hitting and overtaking her I gained confidence, but in the final I didn’t compete very well: I would have liked to shoot eight good arrows, I only shot an acceptable five. However, we are talking about a world silver medal and, on the one hand, there is the bitterness of having missed the opportunity for gold, on the other hand there is the satisfaction of having obtained a good result despite not being at my best.”
After finishing fifth in the 2022 World Championship, just touching the medal zone, Marcaccini confirmed herself at very high levels. Even though this time too she was eliminated by a matter of millimeters (two years ago she lost in the last qualifying round by one point, this year in the round of 16, in the play-off), the girl from Gradara finds many positive sides: “It was a wonderful experience, in a fantastic place with difficult but extremely stimulating races. I am honored to have been able to compete in a high quality championship together with the best in the world. Now we work with more baggage to be able to participate in the next event.”
Nicholas Petricca
