Archery Preview

In the men’s and women’s team events, a battle is expected between China and South Korea, as both nations boast a load of depth and experience and stole the top two podium spots in 2008.

Dates: 30 August – 5 September

Venue: Royal Artillery Barracks Number of Athletes: 140

Medal Events: 9

Ones to Watch: Danielle Brown (Great Britain), Philippe Horner (Switzerland)

For those heading out to the Royal Artillery Barracks, expect to see the archery competition dominated by the European and Asian countries, with host nation Great Britain atop the medal standings.

There will be four individual events on the men’s side and three on the women’s side, in addition to a team event for both genders. The individual events all begin with ranking rounds followed by elimination rounds, while the team events will take place on the final day of archery competition, beginning with quarter-final rounds.

British archers John Stubbs and Danielle Brown could both defend their Paralympic titles in the men’s and women’s individual compound opens, though Stubbs will face tough competition in Switzerland’s Philippe Horner, current world number one in the event.

Stubbs and Horner faced off against each other previously this year at the London venue during the test event, which the 53-year-old Horner won.

"I let the commentator get into my head, and I learned from that and I'm going to be using that now in my training going forward into the London 2012 Games," Stubbs said. "Hopefully with that I can take it forward and defend my championship."

Brown, meanwhile, struck gold at age 20 in Beijing, and four years later is expected to do the same in London with ease as the world number one in her event.

“I am my biggest rival,” Brown said. “At the end of the day, if I put one down in the middle no one can beat me.”

USA’s Matt Stutzman will also draw plenty of attention, as he has no arms and uses his mouth to fire the bow at the target. The American has received plenty of admiration for his story back home and has been featured on McDonald’s to-go bags in the lead-up to the Games.

Also, be sure to take note of Italy’s flag bearer Oscar de Pellegrin, who will make his sixth Paralympic appearance in London and already has a Paralympic team gold and two bronze medals to his name.

In the men’s and women’s team events, a battle is expected between China and South Korea, as both nations boast a load of depth and experience and stole the top two podium spots in 2008.

But look out for a strong fight from the Czech Republic’s Paralympic bronze medal-winning trio of Mirioslava Cerna, Lenka Kuncova and Marketa Sidkova to try to shake things up on the women’s side.

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Philippe Horner