Shanghai 2016 recurve finals schedule: the favourites

Korea are represented this time round by some of the youngest teams ever seen at a World Cup. They’ve made three finals, but can they finish the job?

The real nation to watch will be Chinese Taipei, who seem to have peaked at the right time, and if they manage to sweep their matches, it will change the atmosphere in the lead up to Rio.

Will we be seeing some blue shirts on the podium in the Sambadrome in August?

Recurve men’s individual gold (afternoon session): ZACH GARRETT  / SJEF VAN DEN BERG 

Ninth seed Zach Garrett calmly and consistently moved through the brackets on Thursday, and came through an incredible shoot-off against Wei Chen Hung by just millimetres, which will give him confidence in this final.

He’ll need it, up against the second seed and Baku silver medallist Sjef van den Berg, who has emerged as the star of the Netherlands recurve machine and seems to have his arrows magnetically stuck to the ten ring at the moment.

Think I have to give the edge to Sjef, but Zach has proved very, very capable indeed and could push this one all the way. One to savour.

Advantage: Van Den Berg

Recurve men’s individual bronze (afternoon session): WEI CHuN HeNG  / ERNESTO HORACIO BOARDMAN 

Boardman qualified 11th and shot superbly all day on Thursday, pushing Sjef van den Berg all the way to five sets. But the Chinese Taipei archer Wei was looking deadly, not dropping more than three points an end until his last match.

It’s close, but I think Wei will be heading back to Taipei City on Monday morning with bronze.

Advantage: Wei

Recurve women’s individual gold (afternoon session): TAN YA TING  / JU HYEBHIN 

Tan Ya Ting is in ominous form, and has many medals and vastly more international experience than the Korean cadet on her first international outing. Can’t see Ju taking this, but betting against Korean women at archery won’t make you rich.

Perhaps there could be a surprise in store?

Advantage: Tan

Recurve women’s individual bronze (afternoon session): Maja Jager  / KIM CHAEYUN 

In the last twelve months Maja Jager, in Baku and Gwangju, has proved she is still an individual force to be reckoned with after her world championship gold in 2013. She has spent the last few years studying and shooting in Korea.

On paper, she should have enough consistency and experience against the other Korean cadet.

On paper.

Advantage: Jager

Recurve men’s team gold (morning session): Korea  / Netherlands 

The Netherlands are looking like one of the handful of non-Asian teams that could stand on the podium in Rio this year, and came back aggressively against India in the semi. The young Koreans, looking reliant on their coaches, are going to have to marshall every bit of their composure to get past them.

Still, they *are* Korean. It’s always a big ask.

Advantage: Netherlands

Recurve men’s team bronze (morning session): Great Britain  / India 

The GBR men were perhaps a surprise visitor to these finals - they’d even already booked flights back home on Saturday. The UK governing body’s financial loss is Shanghai’s gain.

However, GBR sometimes takes a while to get started, and their mix of youth and experience face a heavyweight Indian team who ran the Netherlands right to the edge. Still, I think the UK might take this; they’re developing a habit of nicking matches.

Advantage: Great Britain

Recurve women’s team gold (morning session): India  / Chinese Taipei 

Could be the match of the day, from two of the best women’s teams in the world. Chinese Taipei are looking incredibly strong at the moment and perhaps the most serious threat to the Koreans in Rio. When the Indian women hit the groove it seems like they are simply unstoppable, but I’m giving this to the ladies in blue.

Advantage: Chinese Taipei

Recurve women’s team bronze (morning session): Germany  / Russia 

Both these well-decorated heavyweight teams will be frustrated not to have made the gold final. A great deal of talent here, and both likely to figure in Rio. I wonder who wants it more? My money is on Russia.

Advantage: Russia

Recurve mixed team gold (afternoon session): Chinese Taipei  / USA 

Wei Chun Heng and Tan Ya Ting will be out once again to do battle against Khatuna Lorig and Brady Ellison. Lots of experience and talent here, but the USA may be just a little hungrier for the gold and the confidence boost, after an unsettled meet for the American squad. Could be a good one. 

Advantage: USA

Recurve mixed team bronze (afternoon session): India  / Korea 

Das Atanu and Deepika Kumari against the very young Korean pair of Park Seong Chol and Jo Areum. Again, experience would seem to favour the Indians, but will this be their focus match? Maybe not. I’ll take the two in white. 

Advantage: Korea