China impressed at the World Archery Para Championships in Pilsen, topping the medals table and earning 11 quota places for the Paris 2024 Paralympics ©World Archery

China finished top of the medals table at the World Archery Para Championships in Pilsen, Czech Republic, an event that saw 78 quota places allocated for the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

China won seven golds during the Championships, with four-time Paralympic medallist Wu Chunyan winning three for the nation.

Chunyan was victorious in the women’s recurve open final, as she overcame Milena Olszewska of Poland 6-4.

Chunyan then followed it up with success in the women’s recurve open team final, helping China to a 17-15 victory over Italy alongside Wu Yang.

Her third gold medal came in the mixed team recurve open final, as alongside Zhao Lixue she helped China to a three-set victory over Italy.

Five of China’s golds came in team events, with other successes alongside the women’s recurve open team and mixed team recurve coming in the recurve women’s open doubles, compound men’s open doubles and W1 men’s and women’s doubles.

Their second individual crown came in the women’s W1 gold final, as Zhang Lu overcame Italian Asia Pellizarri 132-124.

The top home performer was David Drahoninsky, who to the delight of the home crowd won three medals across the Championships.

In the mixed team W1 category, he teamed up with Tereza Brandtlova to help the Czech Republic to victory in the gold final, as they defeated Italy 145-133.

In the men’s team W1 category, Drahoninsky partnered Karel Davidek to bronze, as the Czech Republic pair overcame Italy 139-133.

Drahoninsky completed his medal haul at the Championships with a narrow win in the men’s individual W1 category, triumphing in the bronze-medal match by a score of 133-132 over Zhang Tianxin of China.

In terms of quotas for the Paris 2024 Paralympics, China were the most successful nation securing 11 – two each in the men’s and women’s recurve, two each in the men’s and women’s compound, one in the male W1 category, and two in the female W1 category.

Hosts France were next on the list securing nine quota places, with Turkey third on the list earning seven quota spots.

In total, 25 countries earned quota places.

Athletes representing 13 countries collected 51 medals during the Championships, with 295 archers from 55 countries competing.

China topped the overall medals table with 17 medals, including seven golds.

Italy finished second with eight medals, with Turkey in third with five medals.

Para archery competition during the Paris 2024 Paralympics is scheduled to take place from August 29 to September 5 at the Esplanade des Invalides in Paris.