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Australia has won one medal in Paralympic archery in 40 years. Christopher Davis is aiming to add more.
Davis – who last year became Australia’s first Para-archery World Champion – is set to compete at the Para National Archery Championship in Sydney in a bid to book his ticket to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Seven spots on the Australian Paralympic Team are up for grabs, starting on Wednesday at Sydney Olympic Park Archery Centre in what doubles as the World Oceania Grand Prix.
Shooting for Paris alongside Davis will be 2016 Paralympic bronze medallist Jonathon Milne, Tokyo 2020 representatives Imalia Oktrininda, Peter Marchant and Taymon Kenton-Smith, as well as 2024 hopefuls Ameera Lee, Garry Robinson, Patrick French and Amanda Jennings.
“The whole idea of going to the Paralympics is a little bit mind-blowing really considering I’ve only been doing it five years and I’m an old fella now,” Davis said.
“Who would have thought, you know, that I’d be going to something like that.”
Around nine countries are expected to attend the event, from as far away as Mongolia.
“I know one of my Korean friends that I’ve shot against before… they were they were planning on coming to Australia for this one and the Koreans are very good shooters,” Davis said.
“So hopefully they’ll be there because it’s nice to shoot against other people, in my category at the moment in Australia, I’m the only one classified (as W1).
“I’ve been in the sport for five years, and it’s just exploded in that time. There is a couple of guys coming through though, and hopefully I get to meet them down there.
“So that’ll be nice to have some competition that makes you do better.”
Davis has been on a high since winning gold at the World Championships in the Czech Republic. But he knows form can be temporary.
“I was wondering before that world championship win, what it would be like,” Davis said.
“The only thing I’ve noticed, really, is that a few more people might know me and recognise me.
“It doesn’t really matter whether you’re number one or number 150. If you shoot really well and make sure that your process is good, then everybody’s got a chance at it.”
The championship in Sydney is the first world Para-archery ranking event hosted in Australia leading up to Paris Paralympics.
Spectators are welcome to attend and show their support.
By: Natalie McGarry
Published: 28 March 2024
