Team Philippines’ para archer Agustina Bantiloc ahead of her debut in the Paris Paralympics 2024 competition. –JUNE NAVARRO/INQUIRER
PARIS—Agustina Bantiloc got to size up the field in time for Friday’s make-or-break Olympic round in the 17th Paralympic Games here.
One thing Bantiloc greatly noticed after placing last among 28th archers in the 72-arrow women’s individual compound open ranking phase on Thursday is the fact that she must stay in the zone and keep her mental approach intact.
“I have to maintain my focus when I compete in the next round,’’ said Bantiloc after compiling a season-best 618 points on a sunny but breezy afternoon at the Les Invalides archery range.
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Turkey’s Oznur Cure Girdi topped the ranking phase and reset the world record, pooling together 704 points in wiping out the 698 of Great Britain’s Phoebe Paterson early this month in Oxfordshire.
The Baguio-based Bantiloc could face fifth-ranked Jane Gogel of Brazil in the round of 16 early Friday and could advance to the semifinal in their 15-arrow faceoff.
“The key, really, is mental focus. Archery is 10 percent equipment and talent and 90 percent concentration,’’ said coach Jonathan Josol.
Bound to a wheelchair after suffering a debilitating fracture to her pelvic bone when she was six years old, Bantiloc was the first national para archer who qualified in these Games for physically-challenged athletes.
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After 36 arrows in the first half, the 56-year-old Bantiloc compiled a total of 313 points with her best output coming in the fourth end where she accurately hit the target four times out of six shots.
The promising performance was eventually pulled down by a pair of 7s in the fifth end before Bantiloc closed out the initial half with a series of 8s before capping the sixth end with a wayward arrow that netted a five.
Bantiloc had a combined score of 102 after the first 12 arrows and got her range in the third end with back-to-back perfect hits.
Another shaky start, however, hounded Bantiloc in the second half, pooling together 153 points over three ends and finishing the second with 305.