Blind archer's Paralympic hopes for future

Clive Jones lost his sight in 2000, and took up archery as he rebuilt his life

A blind veteran is hoping to one day compete at the Paralympics.

Clive Jones from Market Drayton, Shropshire, lost his sight completely in 2000 after being assaulted whilst serving in the army.

He took up archery with support from Blind Veterans UK, as he was recovering from the life-changing incident.

"It really is a lovely sport. It’s inclusive. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got no eyes, no arms, no legs, you can still shoot an arrow," Mr Jones said.

"You're totally blind, all you see is black, you’ve just shot a bow and arrow and quite frankly, next thing you hear is the arrow hitting the target. That’s a great feeling."

He shoots by using a tactile sight, which is attached to a tripod.

The sight touches the back of his hand, which is how he aims.

He shoots as a sighted person would, but has a spotter to tells him where the arrow lands.

Visually impaired archery is not currently a Paralympic sport, but Mr Jones said: "The Paralympics is what everyone strives for."

Mr Jones placed second at the 2023 International Blind Sport Federation World Games in Birmingham

Mr Jones said archery had helped him hugely with his confidence, and has led him to coach others in the sport.

"I woke up from my coma and instantly knew that my career was over. My first worry was, the future of my family and my wife and kids."

"Getting into archery has done wonders for my confidence, my motivation and my get up and go. My social skills are just so good now."

"At times I wouldn’t sit and talk to anybody, and now I don't shut up," he said.

To aim, Mr Jones uses a tactical sight, which is attached to a tripod, and touches the back of his hand

His first outing representing Great Britain was in 2022, for the Dubai World Archery Para Championships.

Since then, Mr Jones has competed in Rome, the Czech Republic, and Rotterdam.

He also came second in the 2023 International Blind Sport Federation World Games, which was held in Birmingham.

"Getting on that podium is what every sportsman hopes for," he said.

"The bottom line would be the Paralympics. Fingers crossed, hopefully that will happen."