Team spirit shone through says victorious Malaysia

Despite a strong start from the USA women, which saw them leap three points ahead after the first end, they found themselves drawn with the Malaysian team with 12 arrows shot. It was 111-apiece. 

Another six arrows later: 166-apiece. 

Another three nines from each team, 193: and the match came down to the final three arrows for each squad. 

The Malaysian team – featuring Fatin MAT SALLEH, who also shoots for compound women’s individual bronze in Shanghai – put those last three arrows in the nine. Impressive from a group that only shoot together in internationals because they live so far away from each other. 

“The team spirit came together,” said FATIN. 

Crystal GAUVIN and Angela BRADLEY both stepped up for the USA, both shot nines. 

All rested on one of the newest girls to the squad, Lexi KELLER: nine to force a shoot-off, 10 to win and any less would lose the match. 

It was an eight. 

Silver for the States, but an impressive result for a new squad that battled up from the sixth seed. 

“We beat some top teams in Mexico and Colombia, and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the year,” explained GAUVIN. 

The defending compound women’s World Champion Colombia – the trio still made up of the same girls that won that event – leaked too many arrows into the nine early in their bronze medal match against Russia. 

Two-points down after the first end, the Russian’s lead extended to five by the end of the third. 

“The field is so good for finals,” said the veteran of the Russian team Natalia AVDEEVA. “No wind, not much sun. It was great out there.” 

The South American ladies did drill five straight 10s to close out the match and pull a point back, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Russia taking the medal. 

Natalia was content: “These days, any medal is a good result – and this is a new team.” 

Read more about Shanghai 2015.