Picking the winners: compound finals at Antalya 2014

Compound finals day in Antalya offers plenty of intrigue. No USA individual finalists, but a Turkish woman with a shot at bronze on a home field and Korea’s first ever individual compound men’s medal. (CHOI’s guaranteed at least silver.)

Watch the entire competition live on Archery TV, online and for free.

Compound men’s individual gold (afternoon session): CHOI (KOR) versus CHAUHAN (IND)

Rajat CHAUHAN knocked one Martin DAMSBO out of the Belek world finals last year, and has built a solid medal match record including team World Cup silverware and gold in the Asian Grand Prix.

This is CHOI’s first World Cup final, but it is on the back of three years international experience. It is a triumph for Korean compound archery: their first male individual finalist.

CHOI has just a little more experience – (a little more pressure?) – and has been in the system a little longer.

Advantage: CHOI, just

Compound men’s individual bronze (afternoon session): SCHLOESSER (NED) versus PAGNI (ITA)

Some familiar European names will be contesting the bronze final. Mike SCHLOESSER is the reigning individual World Champion, while Sergio PAGNI – the – Sultan of Smooth – is a double World Cup Final Champion, among his other titles. These two are pretty evenly matched; perhaps the wind could be a factor?

Conditions are likely to be a little tricky, and PAGNI’s experience could well show through.

Advantage: PAGNI

Compound women’s individual gold (afternoon session): ALMASHHADANI (IRQ) versus AVDEEVA (RUS)

Fatimah ALMASHHADANI from Iraq blazed a truly incredible trail through the women’s brackets to make the gold medal match, capping off wins over Jamie VAN NATTA and Sara LOPEZ by beating reigning World Cup Champion Alejandra USQUIANO in the quarterfinals.

Her gold medal opponent is 25-year-old Natalia AVDEEVA. Hailing from Russia, Natalia’s notched up a steady series of international results – often as part of the nation’s teams – somewhat under the radar since 2009. This is AVDEEVA’s first World Cup stage final.

If she shoots like she shot on Friday afternoon, ALMASHHADANI could beat anybody.

Advantage: ALMASHHADANI

Compound women’s individual bronze (afternoon session): MEISSNER (GER) versus BOSTAN (TUR)

Two younger athletes contest the bronze match: MEISSNER took silver at the World Youth Championships in Wuxi last year, whereas BOSTAN is making her international debut on home soil. As the last Turkish archer left in the field, BOSTAN will have the crowd behind her and will surely have the edge.

Advantage: BOSTAN

Compound men’s team gold (morning session): USA v Netherlands

The match that is a re-run of the Medellin final. The USA’s record in this event – with gold medals running into double figures – is one of the strongest bets in World Cup archery. If anyone can derail their train, it’s this incredible team from the Netherlands.

The Dutch have less to lose, everything to gain. In windy conditions, which are looking increasingly likely, the differences between the teams will narrow to almost nothing.

Advantage: Netherlands

Compound women’s team gold (morning session): USA versus Russia

The USA team won Shanghai and Medellin this year and are undoubted favourites for a third title in a row. They scored 687 points in three matches on their way to this final – but Russia scored exactly the same total, and defeated the fancied women’s trio from Colombia on the way.

With both USA recurve teams crashing out empty-handed, the compounds have extra impetus to nail down golds in their strongest event.

Advantage: USA

Compound mixed team gold (afternoon session): Colombia versus Belgium

Michael CAUWE and Sarah PRIEELS weren’t expected finalists: but they’re both experienced archers and shot some really solid scores on the way to the finals. It might not be enough to derail the very strong Colombian team. Sara LOPEZ and Camilio Andres CARDONA, who knocked out the USA’s pair, are favourite.

Advantage: Colombia

See more official photos from the third stage of the 2014 Archery World Cup in Antalya. Check scores, event news and visit World Archery’s Facebook page and @worldarchery on Twitter for coverage.