Stunned Sorato strikes first gold of European Para Youth Games

Italian Para archer Francesco Maria Sorato admitted he was lost for words after winning the first gold medal of the 2025 European Para Youth Games in Istanbul.

Sorato won the Under23 W1 Open, beating gold medal match opponent and fellow countryman Francesco Tomaselli 142-140.

As the scoreline suggests, it was a close-run contest, but a 30-point maximum in round two of their five-round encounter ultimately proved decisive.

And Sorato's performance proved to be the first half of a golden double for Italy as Para archery concluded at Cebeci Sports Complex, with Gabriele Saccoman winning a dramatic Compound Under23 Open final.

Reflecting on his win, Sorato said: "This venue and competition is amazing, and to win the gold medal I am lost for words.

"I have been a Para archer for four years, and for me it is about growing as much as I can in the sport. The Paralympics would be a big dream."

Saccoman had to use every ounce of his composure and experience to edge out Slovakia's Liliana Lacova in a thrilling battle for gold.

The match was tied at 108-108 going into the final round, and a 10-point maximum with his first arrow gave Saccoman an edge as pressure mounted.

But Lacova then drew gasps from spectators as she hit a maximum with her final shot of the fifth round, taking it into a shoot-off at 136-136.

Saccoman then posted a 10 score, and Lacova could only respond with a nine, meaning that the Italian had triumphed by the closest possible margin.

"It was a very dramatic match," he said. "I lost some points early in the match, then it just tied up ahead of the shoot-off.

"The shoot-off is about millimetres, but there is also a bit of luck involved. All you can do is your best, and it really is a question those millimetres.

"As a team, we did a lot of preparation at home for these Games. We prepared well, and we are now looking forward to staying here for the other competitions and enjoy spectating, especially the team sports that we do not have so much in archery."

Slovakia were not to be denied in the Recurve Under-23 Open, though, where Denis Ivan dashed hopes of a first Turkish gold at the Games by beating Zeynep Sezgin 6-4.

Sezgin won two of the first three rounds for a 4-2 advantage, but pressure then told as poor final arrow scores in rounds four and five helped Ivan overhaul her to take the title.

The record-breaking Istanbul 2025 European Para Youth Games officially open on 24 July and run until 27 July. They will feature a record 640 athletes with 1,200 competitors, coaches and team staff from 33 countries, also the biggest ever number, competing in Para archery, Para athletics, wheelchair basketball, boccia, goalball, Para judo, Para swimming, Para table tennis and Para taekwondo.

Participants will also get to experience the Discovery Programme where they will have the chance to take part in education and experiences in a broad range of topics, including activities designed to immerse the people of Istanbul in EPYG and to get to know Para sport.