Jasmin vows to shoot it straight

ATHENS (Via Globe Telecom) — After a sputtering windup in the 72-arrow ranking round Thursday, archer Jasmin Figueroa vows to do better when she resumes her bid against a fancied Italian rival today.

"I don’t feel tense and nervous anymore," said Figueroa as she braces for a round of 32 match against former world No. 3 Natalia Valdeva of Italy at 5:18 p.m. at the Panathinaiko Stadium here. "I’m ready."

Figueroa and the Italian will shoot 18 arrows, where the RP bet’s best score is 156. Figueroa tallied 600 points to finish 56th in the ranking round, while her opponent checked in ninth with 650.

The match play format here is entirely different from previous Olympic Games competitions. Instead of competing together, only two pairs of archers will shoot at a time from 70 meters.

"This will definitely put a lot of pressure on the archers," said coach Henry Manalang. "Pero I have reminded Jasmin several times na huwag isipin ito. Baka ma-rattle lang siya. I think she has learned a lesson from her ranking competition last Thursday."

From the warm-up field, the archers will be brought by a van to a tunnel, where they will come out to compete as their names are called.

"Ma-drama pero-naka-kakaba kung mahina ang dibdib mo," said Manalang, adding "this is the first time this is going to happen in an international event."

The 5-foot-3, 19-year-old Figueroa started well in Thursday’s competition, but got rattled and lost her focus and touch after she missed in the fourth end and tallied only a 5.

It was too late when Figueroa recovered her form in the sixth and final end of the second half, where she recorded 55 points.

Figueroa’s goal here is surpass the 58th place finish of Jennifer Chan in the Sydney Olympics four years ago.