Naomi Folkard, in women’s recurve, and Chris White in men’s compound, both went out in the opening rounds of their respective events at the FITA World Cup Grand Final.
Hunt is the current world number one ranked women’s compound archer, though she faces a tough start on Sunday against fellow British archer Andrea Gales; as does Terry, who goes against the current Olympic champion Im Dong Hyun of Korea.
The Koreans are the best recurve archers in the world, and proved it yet again when Yun Ok Hee won the women’s tournament today, beating Ukraine’s Victoriya Koval in the final. Another Korean archer – Ki Bo Bae, who beat Folkard – took the bronze medal.
‘They’re good, but they’re beatable,’ said Terry. ‘It is going to be tough whoever you are up against at this level. You don’t qualify for the World Cup Final by being lucky, so if it has to be Im I’m up against first, then so be it.’ Britain’s other hope tomorrow is Alan Wills, also in men’s recurve, who faces the top seed Brady Ellison of the United States.
Meanwhile, Italy’s Sergio Pagni became a FITA World Cup history maker when he became the first archer to successfully defend a Grand Final title. He took the men’s compound title with victory over Braden Gellenthien of the United States in Saturday’s final, in what was a repeat of the gold medal match 12 months ago in Copenhagen.
Pagni concluded the match in style – finishing it with six successive 10s, to clinch the title 6-4. It’s the third time in four years that the American archer has finished runner up at the World Cup Grand Final.
‘I’m absolutely thrilled, ‘ said Pagni after his victory. ‘It was a very intensive match and it is a big thrill to make history as I have, but during it, I was only thinking about shooting, not about records.’
After losing to Pagni in last year’s final, Gellenthien was keen to gain revenge, and said losing the final was a bitter disappointment. ‘That was a shocker, I think the wind affected both shooters, and he handled it better than I did,’ said the American, who beat British hope White in the opening round.
Results:-
Men’s Compound: 1st round: Braden Gellenthien (USA) bt Chris White (GBR) 6-2, Shaun Teasdale (NZL) bt Dietmar Trillus (CAN) 5-5, Teasdale won 1-arrow shoot-off; Sergio Pagni (ITA) bt Martin Damsbo (DEN) 5-5, Pagni won 1-arrow shoot-off; Rodger Willet Jnr (USA) bt Jorge Jimenez 5-5, Willet won 1-arrow shoot-off. Semi-Finals: Braden Gellenthien (USA) bt Shaun Teasdale (NZL) 7-3, Sergio Pagni (ITA) bt Rodger Willet Jnr (USA) 6-4. Bronze Medal Match: Rodger Willet Jnr (USA) bt Shaun Teasdale (NZL) 6-2. Gold Medal Match: Sergio Pagni (ITA) bt Braden Gellenthien (USA) 6-4.
Women’s Recurve: 1st round: Ki Bo Bae (KOR) bt Naomi Folkard (GBR) 7-3, Yun Ok Hee (KOR) bt Alena Kuznietzova (BLR) 6-0, Victoriya Koval (UKR) bt Deepika Kumari (IND) 6-4, Justyna Mosnipek (POL) bt Dola Banerjee 6-0. Semi-Finals: Yun Ok Hee bt Ki Bo Bae 5-5 (Yun won one arrow shoot-off 10-8), Victoriya Koval (UKR) bt Justyna Mosnipek (POL) 6-0. Bronze Medal Match Ki Bo Bae bt Justyna Mosnipek 6-2. Gold Medal Match: Yun Ok Hee bt Victoriya Koval 7-3
The Archery World Cup Final concludes in Edinburgh tomorrow (Sunday 19 September), with the men’s recurve and women’s compound championships.
For more information on the Archery World Cup Final and a schedule for the event go to – http://www.archeryedinburgh.co.uk/
FITA (international Archery Federation)- http://www.archery.org/
Archery GB – http://www.gnas.org/
Scottish Archery –http://www.scottisharchery.org.uk/
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
