Paris 2024: Ariana Nur Diana Almost Stuns Former World Champion

By Vikneswaran Raman

PARIS, July 31 (Bernama) — National recurve archer Ariana Nur Diana Mohamad 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 degrees Celsius 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 Nur Diana 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 Nur Diana hit nine.

Commenting on her performance today, Ariana Nur Diana said she was a little frustrated that she couldn’t push the Italian further, but overall was satisfied with her Olympics debut.

“It was more about the challenge between myself and my thoughts. I had done better before; however, my shots weren’t too bad as the points were close.

“I gained a lot of experience and lessons here to improve myself. Who knows, there might be a chance at the next Olympics,” she said.

The country’s last representative in contention, Nurul Azreena Mohamad Fazil, is scheduled to face Elif Berra Gokkir of Turkiye in another 1/32 elimination match later.

Yesterday, Syaqiera Mashayikh's hopes of advancing to the last 16 were thwarted as she lost 5-6 to Ana Luiza Sliachticas Caetano of Brazil after a shoot-off.

She had started her campaign by defeating Alexandra Mirca from Moldova 6-0 in the 1/32 round.

-- BERNAMA