PARIS 2024: PRESENCE OF FAMILY IN PARIS A MUCH NEEDED TONIC FOR ARCHER ARIANA NUR DANIA

From VIKNESWARAN RAMAN

PARIS, July 24 (Bernama) -- The presence of family members has given National archer Ariana Nur Dania Mohamad Zairi added impetus in her quest to improve on the National record when competing in the women’s Recurve at the 2024 Paris Olympics, tomorrow.

The 19-year-old, marking her debut in the Olympics, will see action in the ranking rounds in Invalides, amidst a backdrop of historial monuments and the museum of France.

Speaking to Bernama after wrapping up her official training session at the competition venue today, Ariana Nur Dania said her family members arrived in Paris on Tuesday to offer support and motivation for her.

“The presence of my parents, sister and two brothers, has certainly added to my confidence so as to achieve a good result because they have come so far to support me. I take it (their presence) as a motivation when competing tomorrow.

“There is certainly hope of breaking the National record but I won’t put so much pressure because I know how I am shooting right now, how am I training currently. With sustenance, our hope (women’s archery team) is a medal but what is important is to give our best,” she said.

Ariana Nur Dania has managed to set a new record by shooting 669 points during the Olympic Qualifiers in Antalya, Turkiye, to erase her previous record of 649 points that she had set during the Asia Qualifying in Bangkok, Thailand, last year.

Speaking of her challenges in Paris, she said she has been able to adapt to the weather conditions and cold wind conditions after several training sessions since arriving here on Saturday.

“Initially it was very challenging since the wind conditions here is stronger and changing directions each time (compared with Malaysia, left, right). But yesterday, I was able to adapt, we know what to expect.

“When you are competing at the Olympic stage, we can certainly see and feel the difference compared with other championships like the World Cup because slots for the Olympics is limited and there will be many big names,” she said.

She added that her team mate Nurul Azreena Mohamad Fazil and Syaqiera Mashayikh who will also see action in the individual and team events on Sunday (July 28), also remain positive when leading the country’s challenge tomorrow.

A total of 64 archers who have qualified for the women’s Recurve, will compete in the Ranking round tomorrow to determine their positions in the knockout round that starts on Tuesday. 

During the knockout stage, the archer who is ranked at the top will face the archer who finishes at the bottom of the list.

-- BERNAMA