New Zealand wins two Olympic berths in continental qualifiers

New Zealand has become the 29th nation to secure at least one place in shooting at the 2024 Olympic Games, after Ben McLean and Nuala Edmondson won the continental qualifiers for the 2024 Olympic Games in Oceania last weekend.

Archers from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga also took part in this competition, while Australia has already secured two singles spots by winning the mixed doubles event at the Pacific Games.

“I am proud and honored to have reached the final. I accept this victory with great humility,” Edmondson (19 years old) said after defeating compatriot Julia Harrison 10-7 in a penalty shootout. “I have big goals and I will do everything in my power to achieve them.”

New Zealand archers competed in the women's final and the men's final (McLean's 7-3 victory over Finn Matheson).

If the places taken here are reallocated, either due to New Zealand receiving a team quota or being rejected, bronze medalists Arne Jensen (Tonga) and Chandvi Prasad (Fiji) will be the next recipients in line.

The Olympic qualifiers will continue with a qualifying match for the American continent at the beginning of next April.

Photography by David Edmondson.