Shanghai-China, April 15, 2012: The first World Cup of the year has ended in Shanghai with the four compound individual medal matches. On the female side, the mixed team world champion 2011 Marcella TONIOLI (ITA) defeated the reigning individual world champion Albina LOGINOVA (RUS) in the gold final. The Italian clinched her second World Cup victory after Stage 3 in Ogden last year. Diane WATSON (USA) beat the para-archer Danielle BROWN (GBR) for bronze after a tie-break.
On the men’s side, the top seeded archer Reo WILDE (USA) had a straightforward victory over the surprising Mexican Julio Ricardo FIERRO (No. 26). In a Franco-French encounter, Dominique GENET won the bronze medal against his teammate Pierre Julien DELOCHE.
BROWN has been inescapable in the para archery discipline for many years. She was Paralympic champion in Beijing 2008 and para world champion in Turin 2011. And yet the 24-year old British lady is also one of the best athletes in able-bodied competitions. At the Shanghai World Cup she finished 3rd in team in 2010 and 4th individually in 2011. BROWN won gold in the team event at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi 2010, shooting for England.
At 48 years old, WATSON was team world champion in 2009. She has won four World Cup team events, including Shanghai 2010 and 2011. In individual competition the American can today tie her most notable result, a bronze medal in 2009 at the Stage held in Dominican Republic. WATSON defeated BROWN in their sole encounter. It was two years ago in Shanghai in the 1/8 elimination, but that match was shot in the set format at the time.
WATSON took the best start with three well grouped arrows, only one being a bit low in the 9-ring. As her opponent opened the match with two 9s and an 8, the third one high on the right, the American led by three points (29-26). They both made the necessary adjustments in the second end and shot perfect arrows. The gap remained at 59-56).
BROWN then kept the same pace with another 30-point end. Her competitor released a close group but three 9s high on the left; the British para-archer tied the match at 86-86. The two ladies then followed with 28 and 29 points each in the last two ends and the tie remained (114-114, 143-143) for a shoot-off. BROWN and WATSON hit the target on the left but the American’s tie-break arrow was a 9 that overcame her opponent’s 8 for victory!
Compound Women Individual – Gold Medal: Albina LOGINOVA (RUS/5) v Marcella TONIOLI (ITA/7)
The Russian was individual and team world champion in 2009 and she successfully defended her individual title in 2011. After she won the World Cup Final 2010, LOGINOVA again qualified last year but finished 6th in Istanbul. She has also clinched four World Cup Stages victories with her team.
For her first season in the national team TONIOLI clinched amazing results last year. She became mixed team world champion on home soil in July. In the World Cup the Italian finished 9th in Porec, 6th in Antalya, 1st in Ogden, and 5th in Shanghai. Such performances qualified her for the Istanbul Final where she finished 3rd. In Turkey she beat LOGINOVA by a whisker, 139-138, in the quarterfinal.
The two young ladies opened the match with two 10s and one 8 but in a different order and were tied at 28-28. They then went on shooting exactly the same 10-9-10 series, and the tied remained (57-57). TONIOLI was the first to take the lead, shooting one more point than her opponent in the third end, 28 against 27 for LOGINOVA (85-84).
The Italian finished with two strong ends of 29 points. With 28 twice her world champion opponent could not hope for more than the silver medal in this event. TONIOLI was the most consistent in this match shooting three ends of 29 and two of 28. She deserves her second World Cup victory! Final score: 143-140.
Compound Men Individual – Bronze Medal: Dominique GENET (FRA/4) v Pierre Julien DELOCHE (FRA/6)
The French ensured at least a bronze medal when they both qualified for the semi-finals. However, the teammates both lost their match and met up for bronze. At 48 years old GENET has been in the national team since 1996. He won the World Cup Stage in Antalya in 2009 and several medals in the team events. DELOCHE, 30, has been a member of the French team since 2007. He won the team event at the World Cup Stage held on his home soil in 2008 and finished 2nd with the French team in Shanghai last year. The two duels between the teammates so far have turned in favour of the youngest.
GENET scored two ends of 10-10-9 in the same order, with the third arrow on the left each time. His fellow countryman also started with 29, but clinched a perfect second end, his third arrow being just on the line (59-58). In the third end, the performances reversed compared to the second and there was a tie at 88-88.
With 28 points in the fourth end DELOCHE let the lead go for the first time of the match to his teammate who scored 29 (117-116). The youngest on the field still put pressure with a perfect final end, but GENET replied with 30 points and won the bronze medal, 147-146.
Compound Men Individual – Gold Medal: Reo WILDE (USA/1) v Julio Ricardo FIERRO (MEX/26)
The psychological advantage is clearly on the American’s side since he has never lost to the Mexican in three encounters: at the Arizona Cup 2011 and 2012, as well as in the World Indoor Championships in February. WILDE, 38, can also make experience speak: he has been in the national team since 1995, is 2nd in the current world ranking behind his fellow countryman Rodger WILLETT JR. and the No. 1 seed in the competition. One cannot count how many titles, in World Championships and World Cups, individual and team, outdoor and indoor, WILDE has already clinched! His thirst for victories is still insatiable!
In the team events shot in the morning, WILDE had clinched the men’s team gold medal but he missed the mixed team’s gold. The American did not want to miss the occasion in his individual final against the surprise Mexican. He drew on experience and performance and got off to a perfect start to show who was boss!
WILDE then continued with only 10s and a few 9s. Shooting one 8 in each of the first three ends, FIERRO kept falling further and further behind (30-27, 59-54, 89-82). He improved in the fourth end with 29, but lost ground again in the last with two 10s and a 7. With two 3’s and three 29’s, WILDE was a substatntial cut above his opponent and won an easy victory 147-138.
The World Cup Stage 1 in Shanghai has now ended. Join us again in two weeks for Stage 2 that will be held in Antalya, Turkey from 1-6 May!
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