PARIS, July 30 (Xinhua) -- A bronze medal in the Paris Olympics archery men's team event marks a historic milestone for Türkiye.
"We didn't start well, with my initial arrow scoring a six in the 1/8 elimination round. Initially, I was feeling pressured in the first match, but after that, confidence took over. We aimed to enjoy ourselves and have a good time," said Mete Gazoz after winning Türkiye's first men's team archery medal here on Monday.
The reigning champion competed together with Berkim Tumer and Abdullah Yildirmis on Türkiye's team.
In a thrilling encounter against Colombia on Monday at the Invalides, Türkiye clinched victory in a shoot-off during the 1/8 elimination round, followed by another win against India. After losing to France in the semifinal, Türkiye defeated China in the bronze medal match to reach the podium.
"This medal reflects our intense dedication and rigorous training. We are immensely proud to showcase our hard work on the podium," said Abdullah Yildirmis.
As the leader of Türkiye's archery team, Gazoz won an individual gold medal at Tokyo 2020. This time, he led the team to a bronze medal, raising expectations for their future performances.
On Tuesday, Gazoz again had two victories in men's Individual 1/32 and 1/16 elimination rounds.
Teammate Berkim Tumer praised Gazoz, saying, "He's amazing. We look up to him and try to emulate his approach. Even if I were to become an Olympic champion, I couldn't match his caliber." Besides acknowledging Gazoz's brilliance, Tumer also highlighted the strength of their cohesive team, expressing hope for future achievements.
Discussing the secret to success, Gazoz emphasized, "Your technique isn't everything. Believe in yourself, be smart, and most importantly, have fun."
