Athletes shot the qualifications today at the Indoor World Cup stage 1 in Singapore

CHANG Shu Chieh (TPE) led the recurve men category from the start and kept the top spot with a total of 589. The ranking of the rest of the field kept changing. In the end Olympic team silver medallist Jake KAMINSKI (USA) tied with 2012 world field champion Jean-Charles VALLADONT (FRA) for second place with 584. Jake had a difficult start shooting a 6 in his second end. CHUI Chun Man (HKG) managed to rank fourth (582) and LUNG Wen-Yu (TPE) consolidated fifth place with 580 points.

Mentionable was the fact that Olympian Rahul BANERJEE (IND) shot his first indoor tournament ever. BANERJEE says: “I’ve been shooting since 1995 and this is my first indoor competition ever. I like it very much and even have plans now to come shoot in Nimes (FRA). I don’t understand why we don’t have more indoor competitions in India. I know we don’t have much indoor facilities to organize big 18 metre rounds, but I don’t see any reason why we should not use schools or university venues to shoot these competitions. This is a good learning experience for me and I hope to use it to promote more indoor shoots in India.” Rahul ended up qualifying in 9th place with 577 points.

In the recurve women division, top European Berengere SCHUH (FRA), no stranger to indoor competitions, did what was expected and ranked first after 60 arrows with 580 points. Her fellow country woman Celine BEZAULT was in second position with 566 points. Victoriya BELOSLYUNTSEVA (KAZ) was third with 556, Bianca GOTUACO (PHI) fourth at 555 and the fifth place went to local archer Deborah WONG with 553 points.

As was the case many times in 2012, Reo WILDE (USA) was on top of the leader board once again after qualifications with a score of 594. Morten BOE (NOR) was second, tied with Logan WILDE (USA) with 588 points. Patrick ROUX from South Africa (586) and Australia's Patrick COGHLAN (583) rounded up the top 5.

In the compound women, youngster Danelle WENTZEL (RSA) topped the ranking with 575 points, with Amaya PAZ (PHI) following by seven points with 568. Three points behind Amaya, another South African, Gerda ROUX (565). Joanna CHESSE (FRA) and Vanessa HO from Singapore tied in fourth place with 564 points.

Complete results of today’s qualification can be found HERE. The competition continues tomorrow with all eliminations and medal matches.

Dean Alberga/ World Archery Communication