Tight fights and ties: Day one done in Marrakesh

To qualify for the final archers must shoot at least two stages, including Las Vegas. The top 16 finishers at each stage in the compound men, compound women, recurve men and recurve women competitions earn Indoor World Cup ranking points. After the final stage, the top 16 ranked archers in each category qualify for the Indoor World Cup Final.

Compound and recurve women started this year's Indoor World Cup this morning, when they shot qualification alongside recurve junior men and women competing in Marrakesh. This afternoon, the Moroccan floor belonged to compound and recurve men, before all the seniors shot the 1/16 elimination round.

Compound women
Three USA women rotated the lead throughout compound qualification, but after sixty arrows it was Lexi KELLER on top with a score of 578. Her fellow countrywomen Crystal GAUVIN and Jamie VAN NATTA were close behind, both on 576. The Netherland's Inge VAN CASPEL took fourth with 574 and Laure DEMATOS from France rounded out the top five with 571 points.

Belgium’s Françoise HULIN recorded a quick, straight-set victory over AL KHAZRAJI Ghufran Abdluhahhab Abed from Iraq in the one 1/16 compound women’s elimination match of the evening.

At yet another tournament, Jamie VAN NATTA waited until the last minute for her bow. Not great preparation, but it's happened to Jamie many times over the past couple of seasons - and luckily, as usual, it turned up just in time!

Recurve women
Tatiana SEGINA (RUS) led recurve women's qualification from start to finish with a solid 578 (290 first half, 288 second). Trailing her: Naomi FOLKARD (GBR) with 574. After her victorious qualification performance, Tatiana SEGINA said “it was a little cold this morning but I am happy how things went. I hope there will be some more of my Russian teammates here next time.”

The two top women created a reasonable gap over number three, Anna BOTTO (ITA), who scored 565. After that, another big gap - 28 points - to the rest of the field: France's Melina TOUSSAINT had 537, and native Moroccan Khadija ABBOUDA scored 535. There was no cut and all the recurve women returned this evening for the 1/16 elimination. There were no real upsets, and tomorrow’s last 16 are set.

Recurve men
European Outdoor and Indoor Champion Rick VAN DER VEN (NED) lived up to expectations in the recurve men’s competition. After the first thirty arrows he was two points behind World Field Champion Jean-Charles VALLADONT (FRA), who led the field with 296. Over the second half, VAN DER VEN put the pressure on and overtook the French archer, finishing with 591 to VALLADONT’s 590.

“I started out a little slow and dropped a few unnecessary points,” VAN DER VEN explained. “Ah well! It is my first real indoor test this year, and I think I passed. Hopefully I will start better tomorrow and head home with a good result.”

Jean-Charles VALLDONT was happy with second: “Due to other obligations I only had two days to prepare for this tournament, so I can’t complain. Dropping only 10 points over 60 arrows is not a bad result. I am happy to be here, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the competition.”

Italy’s Matteo FISSORE score of 582 claimed third, eight points behind VALLADONT, whose French compatriot Thomas FAUCHERON came fourth on 581. CHUN MAN Chui from Hong Kong China completed the top five, after qualifying with 577. All the top seeds won in the 1/16 round, claiming their tickets into the last 16 and tomorrow’s competition.

Compound men
Defending Indoor World Cup Champion Braden GELLENTHIEN (USA), European Indoor Champion Pierre Julien DELOCHE (FRA) and World Outdoor Champion Mike SCHLOESSER (NED) all sat on 296 after 30 arrows. The top three remained on top until the end, still tied, all finishing on 593!

“It is my first time in Marrakesh,” said DELOCHE at the end of compound men’s qualification. “As the first major international indoor tournament of the season I am happy with my score. The atmosphere among the competitors was very friendly and we had good fun!”

Dutchmen Peter ELZINGA finished in fourth with 591, two points behind the leaders, and Ruben BLEYENDALL fifth on 590 points. In the 1/16 elimination, Sebastien PEINAU from France fell victim to today’s only real upset when Joseph WILKIN knocked him out with a bow borrowed from his USA teammate Braden GELLENTHIEN. “This is my first international competition,” exclaimed WILKIN, “and I am very overwhelmed by it all.”

Laughing, WILKIN did reveal the secret of his surprise success: “I felt confident shooting Braden’s bow... because I know he’s done great things with it!”

Recurve junior women

The junior recurve women's competition was an all-Moroccan affair. Out of the eight locals vying for top seeding, EL BENNAYE Chaimaa emerged as the best with 525 points.

Recurve junior men

Camille ADRIANARISSON and fellow French national Kevin LOPEA led the recurve junior men with 565 and 538 points respectively. They were trailed by three Moroccans: BENHACHEM Soufian on 521, EL BARNY Rida on 511 and EL BENNAYE Youssef on 491 points. It was good to see so many young men and women from Morocco and the surrounding countries competing at the historic tournament.

For complete results from qualification and the 1/16 elimination stage in Marrakesh visit the World Archery website - www.worldarchery.org - and join in the online conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Don’t forget to use the #IWCMarrakesh hashtag!

World Archery Communication

Competitions