World number ones 1st over Antalya compound qualifying

Colombian woman Sara Lopez and Danish man Stephan Hansen, the reigning world number ones, both finished top of the ranking round at stage two of the 2017 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Antalya, Turkey just over two weeks after both taking gold at the opening leg in Shanghai.

Lopez scored 701 out of a possible 720 points, three more than second-seed (and world number two, and stage one silver medallist) Sarah Sonnichsen.

“My goal today was to not look at the score at all, not look at the other targets and just do my job. I really feel calm and confident. It was really windy but I managed to keep doing my job,” said Lopez.

A top-tier rivalry is quickly developing between the two Sara(h)s.

Lopez arrived in Turkey with five Hyundai Archery World Cup stage wins in a row and 28 consecutive unbeaten matches at the world level underneath her belt. Sonnichsen, however, did manage to oust the 15-arrow-match world record holder in the final of the Conquest Cup – an invitational tournament – just before Antalya.

“I hope to get a rematch with Sara. I beat her in Istanbul but to beat her in a World Cup would be even better. Istanbul was a step on the way. I'm excited,” said Sonnichsen.

Hansen’s 710 was enough to pip Steve Anderson to the men’s pole position by a single point.

“Today was really good. I just focused on myself; I had no big expectation for how it would go. I feel like winning the first World Cup put a little less pressure on me. I shot good yesterday in practice and I knew what to do, I just had to follow the same routine,” said Hansen.

Stephan, who is also the reigning World Archery Champion, perhaps amazingly, hadn’t podiumed at a Hyundai Archery World Cup event until beating PJ Deloche to gold in Shanghai to open the season.

Turkish archers Demir Elmaagacli and Yesim Bostan seeded third in their respective qualifications on home soil in Antalya.

The second stage of the 2017 Hyundai Archery World Cup runs 6 to 11 June in Antalya, Turkey.