Determined Ukrainians top recurve team podiums

“To be world champions is a real victory. The situation in our country prompted us to try hard and win,” said Veronika MARCHENKO after her women’s team shot a week-high 234 to beat Germany in the gold medal match.

MARCHENKO and Anastasia PAVLOVA, previous junior champions, have managed to transition to the senior ranks perfectly.

They chanted from the spectator stands moments later, encouraging Ukraine’s men’s team during their own final against Japan. Heorhiy IVANYTSKYY, Markiyan IVASHKO and Viktor RUBAN were clinical in the 235-229 victory.

Ukraine now leads the medal table of the Nimes World Championships, ahead of the United States.

The long winter months are one reason for the Ukrainian indoor success. “Preparation went on despite the disturbances. We all gathered and trained together in Kiev. All the hard work has paid off for all of us, juniors and seniors,” said PAVLOVA.

All Ukrainian senior team members are professional athletes. Being an elite archer is treated as a job in the Eastern European country – athletes are under contract, receive salaries, and results are expected.

“To win gold medals is the reason we live,” said Lidiia SICHENIKOVA.

After Mariya SHKOLNA’s compound junior title yesterday, 2008 Olympic champion Viktor RUBAN could give Ukraine a fourth gold tomorrow in the individual final. Watch it live on Archery TV.

The World Archery Indoor Championships are underway in Nimes, France until 2 March 2014. Follow live scores, full results and World Archery’s coverage on Facebook and Twitter.