Paralympic gold medallist Zhang Tianxin of China (Photo World Archery)
Paralympic gold medallist Zhang Tianxin of China led the men’s W1 qualification at the Gwangju 2025 World Archery Para Championships with 667, a full nine points ahead of the favourite Jason Tabansky of the USA.
“I feel the atmosphere here is rather good, it’s letting me play and compete quite well.” said the 27-year-old, twice an individual Asian champion.
“I’m just going to give it my all and let things take their natural course, and do my utmost to go for the best results.”
The other qualification left to complete was the compound men, and again a Chinese athlete took the top spot, 26-year-old Zhang Yicheng, in only his second major international.
Zhang shot 701, a full five points ahead of the veteran second place man Jere Forsberg of Finland – the individual Paralympic champion at London 2012. Great Britain’s Nathan MacQueen was third, also on 696, just ahead of Kevin Polish.
The first major eliminations of the day set up the mixed team finals in all three classes, with all the major para archery nations were in the mix.
The biggest shock of the day were Mongolia: ranked 4th in the recurve mixed team thanks to some punchy ranking round performances from Munkhbaatar Namjilmaa and Selengee Demberel. They beat number one seeds, the much-decorated Wu Chunyan and Zhao Lixue, 5-1 for a place in the gold final – a result that must have sent shock waves through the Chinese camp.
Mongolia will face an Italian pairing of Elisabetta Mijno and Stefano Travisani for gold. “We’ve been here a few times [in the final], so it’s nice to confirm our ability,” said Mijno. “Anything can happen, we’re just here to do our best.”
In compound, Türkiye will face China for gold this weekend after beating Great Britain and India in the semifinals respectively.
China have two younger athletes dominating the W1 tables this competition with Zhang Tianxin and Wang Liya, and that pairing will take on two familiar faces from Czechia, Sarka Pultar Musilova and David Drahoninsky – the latter of whom who was eliminated in the first round of the individual competition at the hands of Paolo Tonon.
“It didn’t work out in the individuals, but I can make it happen with Sarka this weekend.” said Drahoninsky, now one of the most experienced and decorated archers in the peloton.
“What keeps me going? Archery is like a drug. I won a medal in Beijing and I got addicted,” he said.
The competition continues today with individual eliminations.
Top seeds: Compound men
- Zhang Yicheng, China – 701
- Jere Forsberg, Finland – 696
- Nathan MacQueen, Great Britain – 696
Top seeds: W1 men
- Zhang Tianxin, China – 667
- Jason Tabansky, USA – 658
- Suphawat Samutchaiyakij, Thailand – 657
