PARIS: National recurve archer Ariana Diana Zairi almost stunned 2022 world champion Chiara Rebagliati of Italy in the women’s individual 1/32 elimination round at the 2024 Paris Olympics before losing 5-6 in the shoot-off.
The 19-year-old debutant started well to hit the bull’s eye in the first set to tie 27-27, before winning the second 25-24 to lead 3-1 at the Invalides.
As the competition got intense under the scorching Paris summer weather hitting 30°C this afternoon, the Italian started to score near-perfect scores to win the next two sets 28-27, 29-27 to take a 5-3 lead.
Both started the fifth set with perfect scores of 10-10, and then hit 9-9, but Ariana managed to hit another bull’s eye to get 10 while Rebagliati only scored 8, giving the Malaysian 29-27 to level the score at 5-5.
With the winner to be decided in a shoot-off, the Italian advanced to the 1/16 elimination round after hitting another bull’s eye for 10, while Ariana hit nine.