Bra Archers Dominate National Indoor 3D Championships; Chiara Mantovanelli Claims Gold

The archery scene in Bra has reached a new peak on the national stage. At the Campionati Nazionali Indoor 3D Csain, held on March 14 and 15 at the Palaenergia in Lumezzane, athletes from Bra delivered a commanding performance, securing a double podium in the Modern Recurve Master Female category and a prestigious placement in the absolute standings.

Chiara Mantovanelli emerged as the standout performer of the weekend, capturing the title of Italian Champion. Her victory was the result of a precise and consistent display of skill, allowing her to claim the top spot on the podium. Following closely behind was teammate Barbara Bo, who earned the silver medal, ensuring a dominant one-two finish for the Bra-based archers. Simona Ferrari, representing 4Hoods, completed the podium in third place.

For those unfamiliar with the discipline, Indoor 3D archery differs significantly from traditional target shooting. Rather than aiming at concentric circles, competitors shoot at three-dimensional animal silhouettes in an indoor environment, simulating a more realistic hunting or field scenario that tests an archer’s ability to judge distance and angle.

Success in the Absolute Category

Beyond the gender-specific categories, the event featured “absolute” competitions, which pit the best archers against one another regardless of sex. These brackets are notoriously competitive, with only the top eight qualifiers advancing to the final phase.

Mantovanelli continued her momentum in this open field, securing a bronze medal in the absolute category. Her performance solidified her current form as one of the top 3D archers in the circuit. Barbara Bo also made a deep run in the absolute standings, reaching the quarter-finals before falling just short of the medal round.

A Season of Momentum: From Monza to Lumezzane

The national success in Lumezzane was not an isolated event but the culmination of a strong winter season. Just days prior, the Arcieri di Bra had already made their mark at the regional level in Monza.

During the Lombardy regional Indoor CSAIn championship—a grueling ten-stage winter circuit held at the Ascot Triante field—the Bra duo mirrored their national success. The regional competition utilized the “25 Round & Trophy” formula, requiring archers to fire 60 arrows at 3D targets. The final standings were determined by a combination of the best four results from the circuit and the final event’s score.

In that regional competition, Mantovanelli again claimed the championship title, while Barbara Bo finished second. Simona Ferrari took third, establishing a pattern of dominance for these three athletes across both regional and national competitions.

The consistency shown by the Bra athletes—transitioning from a ten-stage regional circuit to a high-pressure national championship—highlights a level of preparation and technical discipline that has set them apart from their peers this season.

The results in Lumezzane serve as a major validation for the Bra archery program, proving that their athletes can maintain peak performance when moving from regional circuits to the national spotlight.

With the national indoor season concluding, the focus now shifts to upcoming outdoor qualifications and the next phase of the CSAIn calendar. Stay tuned for official updates on the upcoming tournament schedule.

Do you reckon 3D archery provides a better test of skill than traditional target archery? Let us know in the comments below.