David Drahoninsky triumphs on home soil

The Czech Republic’s David Drahoninksy has made a winning return to Para archery, claiming gold in his first competition since the Rio Paralympics. Drahoninsky won the men’s W1 open category in front of his home crowd at the second leg of the European Cup Circuit in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic.

Paralympic champion Jessica Stretton took gold in the women’s W1 open on her debut at the Circuit, while fellow Brit and Rio champion John Walker secured silver in the compound men’s open.

Germany’s Uwe Herter made it two golds with victory in the men’s W1 to add to the medal he won in the first leg of the Circuit last month.

It was another strong showing from Russia*, who also competed in the first leg. They finished top of the medal table after winning the recurve and compound open mixed teams. Sergery Khutakov and Margarita Sidorenko won gold in the individual recurve events, while Elena Krutova took the women’s W1 title.

Sunday’s (23 July) competititon concludes the first year of the European Cup Circuit, ahead of September’s World Championships in Beijing.

*Editor’s note: The International Paralympic Committee suspended the Russian Paralympic Committee on 7 August for its inability to fulfil its IPC membership responsibilities and obligations, in particular its obligation to comply with the IPC Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Code (to which it is also a signatory). As a result of the suspension, Russian athletes cannot enter IPC sanctioned events or competitions, including the Paralympic Games. For further information please click here.