Lausanne – April 27, 2012: Hosting its seventh edition of a World Cup stage from 1-6 May 2012, Antalya is a true grand slam of archery. With 382 athletes and 156 officials registered from 49 countries, the Stage 2 of the Archery World Cup 2012 will be one of the largest ever.
This year the Archery World Cup comprises three stages instead of the usual four. The first leg took place in April in Shanghai (CHN) and the final leg will be held in Ogden (USA) in June. The fact that the London 2012 Olympic Games are just a little more than three months away is an important factor of motivation for our recurve athletes and this event may act as internal selection for the Games for some of the top teams. Let’s now have a look at the favourites for Antalya.
Recurve Men
The top three archers in this category are IM Dong-Hyun (KOR), who won numerous world titles and two team Olympic gold medals; Brady ELLISON (USA), who has dominated the sport the last two years, winning two World Cup Finals, and who just won the first stage of the World Cup this year in Shanghai; KIM Woojin (KOR), who won double gold at the World Championships last year. Their main opponents include the 2004 Olympic Champion Marco GALIAZZO (ITA), the 2008 champion Viktor RUBAN (UKR) and the double medallist from Barcelona 1992 (!) Simon TERRY (GBR). Let’s not forget the Shanghai silver and bronze medallists Dmytro HRACHOV (UKR) and CHENG Chu Sian (MAS), as well as the 2011 World Cup finalists Joe FANCHIN (USA), Gael PREVOST (FRA), OH Jin-Hyek (KOR), Pedro VIVAS ALCALA (MEX), and DAI Xiaoxiang (CHN).
On the team’s side, the Korean favourites will try to recover their title after placing only 4th in Shanghai. Their most dangerous contenders will be the top three from Shanghai USA, France and Ukraine as well as India.
Recurve Women
The big favourite in this category is the Shanghai champion and new No. 1 archer in the world KI Bo Bae (KOR). She will be challenged by her teammates CHANG Ye Jin, CHOI Hyeonju (3rd in Shanghai) and the 2004 Olympic team champion and individual silver medallist LEE Sung Jin. Other favourites include the 2012 world indoor champion Natalia VALEEVA (ITA), the 2011 World Cup Final runner-up Deepika KUMARI, the 2011 World Cup Final winner CHENG Ming (CHN) and her compatriot FANG Yuting, the 2011 world champion Denisse VAN LAMOEN (CHI), Natalya ERDYNIYEVA and Inna STEPANOVA (RUS), Berengere SCHUH (FRA), Pia Carmen LIONETTI (ITA), Alison WILLIAMSON (GBR), Mariana AVITIA and Alejandra VALENCIA (MEX), Khatuna LORIG and Miranda LEEK (USA), as well as the local archer Natalia NASARIDZE (TUR).
On the team’s side, Korea is the powerhouse. They just won the team competition at the Shanghai World Cup. They will be challenged mainly again by India and China.
Compound Men
The favourites are the 2009 individual world champion and multiple team world champion Reo WILDE (USA), winner of the first stage in Shanghai, the 2011 World Cup winner Rodger WILLETT Jr. (USA), the 2009 and 2010 champion Sergio PAGNI (ITA), the 2007 world champion Dietmar TRILLUS (CAN), the multiple team world champion Braden GELLENTHIEN (USA), and the 2007 World Cup Final winner Jorge JIMENEZ (ESA). Julio Ricardo FIERRO (MEX) and Dominique GENET (FRA), who place second and third, respectively, in Shanghai, will also be among the contenders.
On the team’s side, no one seems able to stop the five-time world champions USA. Other contenders for a podium are France, the surprise third from Shanghai Venezuela, as well as Denmark, Great Britain, Canada, Netherlands, Italy, and Russia.
Compound Women
In this category there could be a battle between the rising star Marcella TONIOLI (ITA), winner in Shanghai, and the runner-up, current world champion Albina LOGINOVA (RUS). Their most dangerous rivals will be the 2011 World Cup Final winner Erika ANSCHUTZ (USA), the 2011 world silver medallist Pascale LEBECQUE, as well as Ivana BUDEN (CRO), Gladys WILLEMS (BEL), Linda OCHOA (MEX), and Jamie Van NATTA (USA). Iranians Parsamehr MAHTAB and Seyedeh HALIMIANAVVAL are also among the favourites, as well as the third archer from Shanghai Diane WATSON (USA) and her compatriot Christie COLIN, who came back from a break at the international level in 2011 to win the silver at the last World Cup Final.
In the team competition, the favourites to climb the podium are the three medallists from Shanghai: USA, Russia and Italy.
Competition Format
During the 2012 World Cup, individual recurve archers shoot a 70-metre Round in qualifications and then matches of 5 sets of 3 arrows at 70 metres (Olympic Round). Individual compound archers will shoot the 50-metre Round in qualifications and then matches of 5 ends of 3 arrows with cumulative scoring at 50 metres (Compound Round). Teams and Mixed Teams will shoot respectively 4 ends of 6 and 4 arrows with cumulative scoring. Recurve teams will keep playing at 70 metres and Compound ones at 50 metres.
The Longines Prize for Precision will be awarded this year to the two recurve athletes (one man, one woman) who shoot the most 10s during the World Cup. Stay tuned on www.worldarchery.org for our inside coverage of the Archery World Cup Stage 2 in Antalya from 1-6 May.
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