Hansen to defend world champion title in Mexico

Danish world number one Stephan Hansen, 22, will defend the compound men’s World Archery Champion crown in Mexico City on 21 October 2017, having dropped just two points through four elimination matches to set-up a gold medal match with France’s Sebastien Peineau.

“I didn’t shoot that good before the competition started. It was annoying. Practice is always weird and I don’t really focus much. When the competition starts I just do better,” said Hansen. “I shoot better in competition than in practice.”

“I just look forward to being in [the finals arena] and shooting a match. It’s always different shooting in those fields and Mexicans are pretty loud, so they’re going to be shouting a lot.” 

“I feel comfortable and I’m going to enjoy it.”

No compound man has ever won the world title twice, let alone consecutively.

Hansen shot perfect matches of 150 points in the third and fourth rounds, he had a bye through the first two phases as top qualifier, to beat Roberto Hernandez and Ivan Markes.

He shot another eight perfect arrows before dropping his ninth arrow of a quarterfinal against Abhishek Verma into the nine, but walked away victorious, 149-146.

The 22-year-old World Games Champion was first to blink in his semifinal with Braden Gellenthien, fresh from a gold medal campaign at the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Rome; he shot a nine in the third end.

But then Braden put two out in the fourth – one high, one right – and Hansen returned to the 10-ring, to shoot another 149 to his opponent’s 146.

“It’s always annoying when you come this close and don’t seal the deal. I feel happy with how I shot the earlier matches but… regrets, of course,” said Gellenthien, who podiumed at the worlds in 2003 (bronze) and 2007 (silver).

“Just to be in the top three at the world championships is a great feat. I just need to keep training and I think the chips will fall in my favour before my career is over.”

Hansen gave insight into his match mentality.

“I always expect my opponent to shoot 148,” he said. “So I have to shoot better.”

The compound women’s final at the 2017 Hyundai World Archery Championships will be contested by Turkey’s Yesim Bostan and Song Yun Soo of Korea.

“At first, my arrows weren't landing in the middle so I thought to myself, ‘let's just shoot a score like I'd shoot in practice’, and kept myself from getting greedy,” said Song.

The 21-year-old Korean archer upset world number one Sarah Sonnichsen, 145-142, in the semifinals.

The 2017 World Archery Championships run 15-22 October in Mexico City, Mexico.