Brilliant Archery bronze to Milne, Michel beaten in Boccia

NSWIS archer Jonathan Milne has won the bronze medal in the men’s individual compound open at Sambodromo in Rio.

Competing in his first Paralympics, less than four years after he became a paraplegic while holidaying with his family in December, 2012, when he dove under a wave and clipped his head on the sandbank, Milne displayed skill far beyond his experience.

Milne kicked off his campaign in style with a 143-136 win over Norway’s Morten Johannessen in the 1/16 elimination round, before proving too strong for Great Britain’s John Stubbs, 137-129 in their 1/8 elimination matchup.

In the quarterfinal Milne scored a heart pounding one-point win over Turkey’s Bulent Korkmaz, 138-139 but the Australian met his match in the semi-finals, going down by a solitary point himself, in an identical scoreline, to eventual gold medallist, American Andre Shelby.

In the bronze medal playoff, Milne was brilliant against China’s Xinliang Al, winning 145-142.

The bronze medal was a step up for Milne, who was fourth in the same event at the 2015 World Archery Para Championships in Donaueschingen, Germany.

In the mixed individual BC3 Boccia, the NSWIS’s Daniel Michel put up a solid showing before going down 7-2 to Greece’s world number three Grigorios Polychronidis.

Given Polychronidis’ standing in the sport, it was always going to be a tough encounter for Michel against an opponent he had never previously beaten.

Polychronidis won the first end 4-0 and the second 3-0 before Michel gamely fought on to claim the last two ends 1-0.

The loss meant Michel was unable to progress to the quarter finals but the 21-year-old student with Spinal muscular atrophy type 2 can be proud of a Paralympic debut that included an impressive 3-2 preliminary game win over Great Britain’s Jamie McCowan on day 6.