Iranian compounds make first finals match since 2011

First the top-seeded USA team went out to India in the quarterfinal, their second match of the tournament. Then India lost to Iran in the semis. 

India won the team event at the Asian Games in Incheon last autumn. Iran’s Esmaeil EBADI, on the team in Shanghai, won individual gold at that event. 

“To beat India here is good for us,” said EBADI. “They are always a challenge.” 

The Iranian squad pinned the increase in results on the return of the nation’s compound coach, Majid AHMADI. He was Iran’s best archer back in ’06, ’07 and ’11, which was the last time the nation consistently made the podium in the competition. 

AHMADI was coaching in Iraq. Now, back in Iran, his technical knowledge and experience competing at the highest level has quickly improved the level of the current Iranian squad, they explained.

Iran will shoot against second seed Denmark for gold. 

Danes Martin DAMSBO, Stephan HANSEN and Patrick LAURSEN are the same group that won the world championships in 2013 – and that will defend the title later this summer. The trio shot the highest score of the day by five points: 235, twice. 

France are to meet India in the bronze medal match. 

Despite losing a host of experienced archers from the squad, the USA compound women made yet another final. 

In 2014, riding strong shooting from internationals with over three decades experience combined – like Erika JONES, who’s taking time out to have a baby this season, and Jamie VAN NATTA – the women extended an unbeaten run that began the year before. 

At Shanghai 2015, Crystal GAUVIN was the most experienced member of the team. She began shooting internationally almost one year go. 

It didn’t seem to matter.

First Thailand then Mexico fell to the sixth seeds, then World Champion Colombia came up two points short – 224 to 222 – in a semifinal that saw the South American side be millimetres away from catching up during the last end. 

Five of Colombia’s six arrows surrounded the 10-ring, barely out. Five of the USA’s six arrows to close the match: in the 10-ring. It made the difference. 

The States trio will contest gold with Malaysia, whose compound women have been surprisingly successful in Shanghai this year. Russia will face the Colombians for bronze. 

Read more about Shanghai 2015.

 

People
Competitions