Berlin 2017: Compound finals predictions

Hosts Germany, welcoming archers for a stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup for the first time, put a compound men’s team into a medal match, where a strongly-supported trio will face India.

Turkish compound archers Demir Elmaagacli and Yesim Bostan rode strong matchplay performances to both Berlin gold final berths and last-chance tickets to the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Rome in September.

None of the compound finals at stage four have any bearing on Rome, with all the places already awarded, but still offer a chance for the dominant compound squad on the circuit – Denmark – to secure more silverware.

Here are our picks for the compound individual matches in Berlin…

COMPOUND MEN’S GOLD FINAL:
DEMIR ELMAAGACLI   / STEPHAN HANSEN 

Demir Elmaagacli became a surprising Hyundai Archery World Cup Final Champion in Mexico City in 2015, after winning only one medal – a mixed team second place – through five World Cup seasons prior. Since then, he’s added individual silver at Shanghai 2016 and is ensured of a fourth gong in Berlin, no matter the colour.

His challenger for gold in Berlin is no small obstacle, as the Turkish compound archer faces no less than world number one Stephan Hansen, who is also the reigning World Champion and top ranked this year on the international circuit.

Advantage: Hansen

COMPOUND WOMEN’S GOLD FINAL:
SARAH SONNICHSEN / YESIM BOSTAN

Both 22 years old, Sarah Sonnichsen and Yesim Bostan are both ranked in the top 20 in the world, too. Sonnichsen is world number two, leads the 2017 Hyundai Archery World Cup ranking and is a double world record holder.

Ranked 16th in the world, Yesim Bostan has won three medals – individual and team bronze, mixed team silver – since she started shooting the World Cup circuit in 2014. She’ll have a first try at individual gold in Berlin.

Advantage: Sonnichsen

COMPOUND MEN’S BRONZE FINAL:
​STEVE ANDERSON  / BRADEN GELLENTHIEN 

Braden, who last shot the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final back in 2013, losing to Martin Damsbo in a shoot-off, returns to the season-ending even in 2017. “It’s good to be back,” he said, and will have a warm-up before that finals arena when he takes on teammate – and giant of a man – Steve Anderson for Berlin bronze.

Gellenthien has individually medalled at a stage in every year of the World Cup’s existence except 2006 (he didn’t shoot it) and 2014. since 2007.

Anderson has rocketed up the world rankings over the past two seasons and currently sits in fourth. Hot, his arrow average – 9.69 – still trails the consistent Gellenthien – 9.78 – over the pair’s respective careers.

Advantage: Gellenthien

COMPOUND WOMEN'S BRONZE FINAL:
LINDA OCHOA-ANDERSON  / SAANE DE LAAT  

After shooting a personal best (703) for the 72-arrow ranking round in Berlin, Ochoa-Anderson told reporters that she was in the best form of her life.

Shooting for bronze in Berlin, she faces a first-time finalist in Sanne de Laat, who made her circuit debut in 2016 – and only picked up her first team medal in stage three of 2017’s tour, in Salt Lake City.

Advantage: Ochoa

The fourth stage of the 2017 Hyundai Archery World Cup runs 8 to 13 August in Berlin, Germany.

People
Competitions