Italy’s compound archery squad delivered a record-breaking performance at the European Grand Prix Antalya, securing the nation’s best-ever showing in the discipline during the outdoor season’s opening event.
The Italian team, consisting of 12 compound archers, advanced further in the competition than any previous Italian compound team at a European Grand Prix event, according to verified results from the tournament held in Antalya, Turkey from April 20-27, 2026.
This achievement comes as Italy prepares for the upcoming European Targa Championships, also scheduled to take place in Antalya from May 18-24, 2026, serving as a crucial test event for the continental showdown.
The compound squad featured archers from various Italian military and sports groups, including Marco Bruno (Fiamme Azzurre), Elia Fregnan (Arcieri del Torrazzo), Michea Godano (Fiamme Gialle), Lorenzo Gubbini (Arcieri Città di Terni), Marco Morello and David Pasqualucci (Aeronautica Militare), Francesca Aloisi (Arcieri Iuvenilia), Elisa Bazzichetto (Arcieri Decumanus Maximus), Giulia Di Nardo (Arcieri delle Alpi), Irene Franchini (Fiamme Azzurre), Andrea Nicole Moccia (Arcieri Tigullio) and Elisa Roner (Fiamme Gialle).
Italy fielded the largest delegation at the event with 24 archers total – 12 in recurve and 12 in compound – surpassing Germany (21) and host nation Turkey (20) in team size. The competition drew 239 archers from 37 nations, including 125 men and 114 women across both disciplines.
The event followed the conclusion of the indoor season and marked the beginning of Italy’s outdoor international campaign. Official practice sessions took place on April 21, 2026, with competition beginning April 22 and running through April 26 for the European Grand Prix Antalya.
The compound team’s performance contributed to Italy’s overall strong showing, which included successful navigation of early elimination rounds across both disciplines. The recurve team featured Matteo Borsani (Fiamme Gialle), Francesco Gregori (Marina Militare), Massimiliano Mandia (Fiamme Azzurre), Federico Musolesi and Mauro Nespoli (Aeronautica Militare), Alessandro Paoli (Fiamme Azzurre), Tatiana Andreoli, Lucilla Boari and Chiara Rebagliati (Fiamme Oro), Roberta Di Francesco (Fiamme Azzurre), Vanessa Landi (Aeronautica Militare) and Loredana Spera (Arcieri della Signoria), with Matteo Bilisari (Marina Militare) serving as reserve.
Italy’s archery delegation was supported by a comprehensive staff including head of delegation Federico Pettenazzo, team manager Marcella Tonioli, recurve DT Filippo Clini, recurve technical coach Anedeo Tonelli, recurve support technician Michele Frangilli, compound DT Tiziano Xotti, compound technicians Matteo Gogioso and Alex Boggiatto, physiotherapist Giacomo Gariboldi and psychologist Alessandro Romagnoli.
The event served as the first leg of the European Grand Prix circuit, with results contributing to World Ranking points. Italy’s performance in Antalya provided valuable momentum heading into the European Targa Championships, which will use the same venue just weeks later.
With the outdoor season now underway, Italy’s archery team will next compete in the European Targa Championships from May 18-24, 2026, also in Antalya, where they will look to build on their record-setting compound performance from the European Grand Prix.
What does this record performance mean for Italy’s chances at the upcoming European Championships? The strong showing suggests improved depth and preparation, particularly in the compound discipline where Italy has historically faced stiffer competition from traditional powerhouses.
How did Italy’s compound team compare to other nations at the event? While specific match-by-match results for the compound team aren’t detailed in the available sources, advancing further than any previous Italian compound team at a European Grand Prix indicates measurable progress against established European competitors.
What adjustments might the team create heading into the European Targa Championships? The coaching staff will likely analyze performance data from Antalya to refine equipment settings and competition strategies for the higher-stakes European Championships just weeks later at the same venue.
Stay tuned for continued coverage of Italy’s archery team as they pursue excellence on the European stage.
