Italy’s journey begins positively 2024 European Archery Championships, currently taking place in Essen (Germany) until Sunday 12 May. The continental event is also valid as an Olympic team qualification event for the Paris Games (one slot per gender up for grabs), among the countries that have not yet obtained the pass for the Five Circles event.
In the morning session of the opening day, some good results arrived from the Italian side, even if things will only really get serious starting tomorrow with the first direct clashes. The ranking round of the Olympic arch saw shine in particular Chiara Rebagliati and Tatiana Andreoli, second and third respectively with 672 and 671 points behind the German Katharina Bauer (680).
The third Italian in the race, the individual Olympic bronze medalist from Tokyo 2021, is further away but still solid Lucilla Boari, 19th with 656. The score totaled by the Italian trio (1999 points) earned them second team position behind Germany (2004) and ahead of France (1981). The Italian team will enter the game directly in the round of 16 against Slovakia and Poland.
All in all, an encouraging morning for the men’s sector too, with Mauro Nespoli consistent at high levels in sixth position with 684 points in a qualification won by the Frenchman Thomas Chirault with 692. The other members of the trio, Federico Musolesi and Alessandro Paolithey placed in 11th and 20th place with 676 and 669 points.
Italy therefore advances to the round of 16 (against the winner of Denmark-Luxembourg) as the third seed in the draw in the team event reserved for men with 2029 points behind France (2053) and Holland (2030). Finally, the objective is a medal in the Mixed Team event, with the Italian tandem composed of Nespoli and Rebagliati achieving the third best score in the ranking round with 1356 points behind France (1361) and Germany (1359).
