Para Recurve Archer Suresh Finds it Hard To Accept Paris 2024 Exit

From Amiril Muttaqien Meketar

PARIS, 4 Sept (Bernama) -- National archer S. Suresh still can’t come to terms with the fact that his medal dream in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games is over after his 6-2 loss to Iran’s Mohammad Reza Arab Ameri in the 1/8 elimination round of the men’s open recurve event at the Invalides here today.

Suresh, who was in tears after the defeat, said he had prepared himself mentally and physically to give his everything but still found Mohammad Reza a tough nut to crack.

“I thought I could go further and get a medal. I did my best and never expected to lose.

“I would have accepted it if I had lost because I didn’t perform well. But I can’t because I gave it my best. I’m trying to control (my emotions), but I think I will burst into tears again after this,” he told Bernama here.

Suresh began well to win the first set 2-0 before the wheelchair-bound Mohammad Reza rose to win the next three sets to advance to the quarter-finals.

Suresh also refused to blame the strong wind conditions for his failure and hopes to be better prepared for such eventualities at the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles (LA28).

He also apologised to his family and all Malaysians for failing to bring home a medal this time.

“I will try to do better in LA28…,” he said.

Meanwhile, national para archery head coach Marzuki Zakaria was still proud of Suresh, who did better this time compared to the Tokyo 2020 edition where he lost 6-2 to Russian Paralympic Committee representative Bato Tsydendorzhiev in the 1/16 elimination round.

He said Suresh gave a good account of himself but Mohammad Reza was simply a class above.

Marzuki said he and his team of coaches would analyse the performances of their archers, including Suresh, at Paris 2024 and also listen to their views once they are back home.

Meanwhile, the coach was also full of praise for his two compound archers, G. Daneshen (men’s) and Nur Jannaton Abdul Jalil (women’s), who did well despite being eliminated in their maiden appearance at the Paralympics.

The duo fell at the 1/16 stage in the individual event and the 1/8 round in the mixed team compound Open event.

In the individual event, Daneshen lost 142-144 to Tokyo 2020 gold medallist He Zihao of China while Nur Jannaton went down 124-138 to India’s Sarita.

Then, on Monday (Sept 2), Daneshen-Nur Jannaton’s challenge ended in the 1/8 elimination round of the mixed team compound Open event when they lost 141-147 to Italians Matteo Bonacina-Eleonora Sarti.

-- BERNAMA