Brady Ellison wins Medellin title in four sets

Brady Ellison took recurve men’s gold at the second stage of the 2016 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Medellin, Colombia in four sets over European Games and reigning circuit champion Miguel Alvarino Garcia.

It marks Ellison’s return to the podium on the tour. He had not won an individual medal since winning the Final in the Olympic Capital of Lausanne in 2014.

Brady started fast in the final, shooting three 10s to open and take the first set convincingly.

All of Alvarino’s arrows landed high, and he spent a few arrows adjusting his sight and trying to bring them back into the middle. It wasn’t until the third set, when he was 4-0 down, that it seemed to work.

Still, with the Spanish athlete posting 27 and Brady with a 10 and a nine already in the target, Ellison had a chance to win the match in nine arrows, if he shot a nine. He didn’t. His third arrow landed wide red, in the eight – and the pair split the points, taking the match to 5-1 in the States man’s favour.

Brady only needed one more set to seal it, anyway. He scored 28 to Miguel’s 26 in the fourth, and won the match, 7-1.

“It feels good to be back,” said Brady. “I have been qualifying very well all year. In China I shot great in the elimination but just got beaten by a guy who shot really well against me. I shot well here.”

At stage one in Shanghai, after posting the third highest 70-metre ranking round score ever shot, and a big competition personal best, Brady was eliminated in his first match.

“I’m really looking forward to the Games. I’m shooting the best I ever have, shooting scores that haven’t been shot in a long time, and it makes me excited,” he added.

Miguel said he was leaving Medellin with a “bittersweet taste”.

“I don’t understand why I had some arrows a bit up. I was feeling strong and I had everything to beat Brady. Let’s hope I get another opportunity to get him,” added Miguel.

Korea’s Ku Bonchan won Medellin bronze by beating Hideki Kikuchi in five sets. Ku shot a perfect 30 with his first three arrows to take the lead, but three sets in, the pair were tied.

At that point, the world number five shot consecutive sets of 29 and, to close, 30 points to seal the victory, 7-3.