Para archer Zahra Nemati has been chosen as the para woman archer of the year by the World Archery Organization via public vote.
Tatiana Andrievskaia from Russia, Jessica Stretton of Great Britain, Zhou Jiamin from China, Jane Karla Gogel of Brazil and Nemati were the nominees for the award. Voting took place January 24-February 7 and the winner was announced on February 10, according to the website of the organization, Worldarchery.org.
After reclaiming her World Archery Para Championship in Beijing last October (she last won the title in Bangkok in 2013), two-time Paralympic Champion Nemati reclaimed the Athlete of the Year title for the second season in a row.
Before claiming her individual gold medal at last year’s World Archery Para Championships in Beijing, the Iranian sportswoman won bronze in the mixed team open with countryman Pouriya Jalalipour.
She was also selected as the winner of the International Paralympic Committee’s Allianz Athlete of the Month award for September 2017.
Nemati was at her best at the 2012 London Paralympic Games and won gold in the women’s individual recurve category and a bronze medal in women’s team recurve.
With gold in the 2012 London Paralympics, Nemati became the first Iranian woman ever to win a gold medal either in the Olympics or Paralympics.
Again in the 2016 Rio Paralympic games she fought for the title and the result was success. She took gold in the women’s individual recurve, and silver in the women’s team recurve.
Gold from the 2014 Incheon Asian Para Games and 2013 Bangkok World Para-Archery Championships are her other honors.
The World Archery Federation has described Nemati as a successful archer and role model for women’s empowerment through sport. She currently holds first place in the International Paralympics ranking for women para archers.
