Kyle Tremblay, a first-time Paralympian, faced off against world-ranked number one, Rakesh Kumar from India, in the quarter-finals of the men’s compound open event in para archery at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Tremblay narrowly lost after an intense shoot-off.
“I shot my best. I shot hard. I got a 10 on the final shoot-off arrow. Those last arrows just sometimes come down to a bit of luck and skill, and today just wasn’t my day,” Tremblay commented after the competition.
The two archers started strong, both scoring 29 points in the first end. Tremblay took slightly better leads in the second and third ends, scoring 29-28 and 30-29 respectively. However, Kumar caught up in the fourth end, outperforming Tremblay with a score of 30 to 27.
Reflecting on a crucial moment, Tremblay noted, “I had that one end with three nines, which would have, if I got one 10, that would have kept this from going to a tiebreaker shot.”
As the match progressed into the fifth end, the score stood tied at 144 points each after Kumar outscored Tremblay by just one point. This led to a shoot-off to determine who would advance to the semifinals.
In the shoot-off, both competitors hit the 10-circle, necessitating a measurement for the final decision. Tremblay’s arrow landed 29.5mm from the center bulls-eye, while Kumar’s was only 3mm away. Kumar’s precise shot allowed him to advance to the next round.
“I think it’ll take some time to let this sink in, but I was really hoping to get to that extra round and see if I could get a medal,” said Tremblay regarding his experience.
Entering the Games ranked 12th in the world, Tremblay’s performance against the top-ranked Kumar showed significant promise. As this was his debut at the Paralympics, his success suggests a bright future in upcoming events.
“It is my first Paralympics, so just getting here was very special,” Tremblay expressed, adding that competing alongside his coach, Linda, was equally meaningful. “I think this has just fueled me even more for Los Angeles, and my training will improve, and you can expect a better Tremblay for 2028.”