Indoor World Cup to stop in Marrakesh for the first time

This first edition of the Marrakesh World Cup stage follows three editions of the International Indoor Archery Tournament held since 2010. That year, the competition was considered "an unprecedented step toward archery development in Morocco and North Africa. In spite of the challenges faced by the event, we had to make it happen. The passion to archery was our motive,” said at the time Meriam EL MAHIRI, President of Association Club Arc de Marrakech De Tir à l'Arc—the event organiser.

The IAWC is attracting more and more archers every year. In total, 134 athletes from 16 countries will be present in Marrakesh, four continents being represented – Africa, Asia, Europe and Americas. Top shooters from around the world are expected, including World No 3 Braden GELLENTHIEN (USA).

The compound division will be particularly dense with some of the best archers competing. On the male side, reigning IAWC Final champion GELLENTHIEN (photo) will fight with Pierre-Julien DELOCHE (FRA), who won the outdoor World Cup stage in Poland this year and is the all fresh silver medallist from the 2013 World Championships in September. Other experienced competitors in this category are James BUTTS (USA) and Sébastien PEINEAU, respectively Indoor World Championships team gold and silver medallists.

In the women's event, experienced British ladies Andrea GALES – reigning IAWC Final champion - , Lucy HOLDERNESS and Naomi JONES will be hardly contested by Tokyo 2012 World Cup Final winner Jamie VAN NATTA (USA). Newly crowned silver and bronze medallists in the team event at the Belek 2013 World Championships, Inge VAN CASPEL (NED) and Pascale LEBECQUE (FRA) will certainly also have their say in this category.

The recurve division will also have some high level contenders, with two of the reigning medallists from the IAWC Final making the trip to Marrakesh: bronze medallist Rick VAN DER VEN (NED) and silver medallist Thomas FAUCHERON (FRA), also 2013 World Championships team silver and bronze medallists, respectively. Among the headliners in the men's competition will also be the London Olympic Games team champion Michele FRANGILLI (ITA).

On the female side in recurve, Olympian Naomi FOLKARD (GBR) will have good chances to finish on top. However, she will be facing the promising Tatiana SEGINA (RUS) among others.

The complete IAWC calendar for 2013-2014 is as follows:

• Stage 1 - Marrakesh, 16-17 November 2013
• Stage 2 - Singapore, 8-9 December 2013
• Stage 3 - Telford, 24-26 January 2014
• Stage 4 and Final - Las Vegas, 7-9 February 2014

The complete list of participants is available at www.worldarchery.org.

Follow our coverage of the competition next week-end on www.worldarchery.org and www.facebook.com/WorldArcheryPage.

World Archery Communication