The archery competition of the 2008 Summer Paralympic Games was held in Beijing, China, from 9 September to 15 September 2008. The events took place at the Fuyang Sports Center, a venue specially prepared for Paralympic archery.
Participation
- Athletes: 140 competitors
- Nations: 34 National Paralympic Committees (NPCs)
Classification and Events
Paralympic archery classifications group athletes based on the nature and extent of their physical impairments. The 2008 programme featured seven medal events, divided as follows:
| Gender / Team | Classification | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Men | W1/W2 (wheelchair athletes) | Individual Recurve |
| Men | Standing (athletes with a gait impairment) | Individual Recurve |
| Men | Open (all classifications) | Individual Compound |
| Women | W1/W2 | Individual Recurve |
| Women | Standing | Individual Recurve |
| Women | Open | Individual Compound |
| Mixed | Open | Team (one male and one female archer) |
Competition Format
Each individual event began with a ranking round in which archers shot 72 arrows at a distance of 70 metres (recurve) or 50 metres (compound). The scores from this round seeded athletes for elimination matches conducted using a set system (recurve) or cumulative scoring (compound). The mixed team event combined the ranking scores of the male and female archer from each NPC to determine seedings, followed by head‑to‑head matches.
Medal Summary
A total of 21 medals (7 gold, 7 silver, 7 bronze) were awarded across the seven events. Detailed medalists for each event are recorded in the official Paralympic results archives.
Legacy
The 2008 Paralympic archery programme continued to expand the sport’s visibility and provided a platform for athletes with a wide range of impairments to compete at the highest international level. The competition demonstrated advancements in equipment adaptation, classification accuracy, and global participation, setting a benchmark for subsequent Games.
References
- International Paralympic Committee, “Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games – Archery Results.”
- Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, “Official Report of the 2008 Paralympic Games – Archery.”
All information presented is based on verified sources from the International Paralympic Committee and the Beijing 2008 Organising Committee.
