Rome 2017 competition preview #5: Mixed team

Archery’s annual international tour took athletes to Shanghai, Antalya, Salt Lake City and Berlin in 2017, as the world’s best shooters looked to secure ranking points towards qualifying for the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final.

With the ranking lists settled after stage four, seven archers in each competition category – plus the top ranked mixed teams – were invited to Rome. Joined by an Italian host-nation representative at this 12th edition of the event, they’ll contest coveted Hyundai Archery World Cup Champion crowns.

All the previews

Statsheet #5: Mixed team

  • Number of teams: 4
  • Number of nations 3
  • Compound final: Denmark / Italy
  • Recurve final: Korea / Italy

Matches

The mixed team matches at the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final feature the top-ranked mixed teams over the season-long circuit against a pair from the host country – and, in 2017, that’s Italy.

Compound final
Denmark  / Italy 

No pair has medalled as many times on the circuit as Denmark in the compound mixed team competition. Each of the four events, it’s been Stephan Hansen manning the men’s spot. Sarah Sonnichsen was his partner for the first three events, Tanja Jensen for the last, and it’s the former that will take to the field with the reigning World Archery Champion in Rome.

Hansen and Sonnichsen are the individual favourites in Rome, too – but they won’t have a walkover opponent in this match.

Italy’s Irene Franchini and Alberto Simonelli are not without their very own basket of medals. Franchini was world champion indoors and at the field worlds in 2016, while Simonelli was runner-up at the Paralympic Games in 2008 and 2016.

Advantage: Denmark

Recurve final
Korea  / ITaly 

Also a pairing of top-ranked individuals in Rome, Chang Hye Jin and Kim Woojin didn’t know they’d be shooting in this event until after the last stage in Berlin. Korea was tied with Chinese Taipei on points after the four legs – both nations had two gold medals and one silver in the mixed team competitions – but Korea got the nod on world ranking position at the close of the circuit.

On the other side of the line and representing the Italian hosts, 19-year-old Vanessa Landi, who’s emerging from the junior ranks, and Mauro Nespoli, a two-time Olympic team medallist who won gold with the Italian recurve men in London in 2012.

Advantage: Korea

The 2017 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final takes place on 2/3 September in Rome, Italy.

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