Finals “absolutely not” in early-season plans says Deloche

Former world number one Pierre-Julien Deloche qualified for his fourth Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Rome in 2017, even though he'd taken an 18-month hiatus from international competition leading into the season. He was runner-up at stage one in Shanghai, came top 10 in Antalya and 17th in Salt Lake City.

Ranked 56th in the world to start the season and, by his own admission, taking things slow ­– were the World Cup Finals really in PJ's plans?

“Absolutely not,” he said. “I was expecting good shooting, pleasure and I was pretty sure I was going to shoot in at least one World Cup stage but not in all four, neither medalling individually. I was not expecting team medals either.”

As part of France’s compound men’s squad, PJ won a bronze medal at both the Antalya and Salt Lake stages, and he also finished fourth in the mixed team event in Berlin. He shot his top qualification score over the 72-arrow 50-metre ranking round in Antalya, with 703 points out of a possible 720.

“It’s been an amazing year; it’s a good thing to be here [in Rome],” said Deloche, one of two Frenchman at the event, the other Olympic silver medallist JC Valladont. “I’ll be free to do archery the way I want.”

His first opponent in Rome is third seed Braden Gellenthien. The pair have already met twice on the circuit in 2017, with the victories split.

“Braden is a friend. I beat him in Shanghai and then he beat me in Antalya. Those two were very tight matches and that’s the beauty of archery,” said PJ.

“My victory won’t be in winning this event. I can and I have prepared for that, but if I lose in the first round, my victory will be the attitude of how I take things. Before, I used to shoot with a lot of pressure, but it changed this year.”

“I’m now more relaxed, I still get nervous, but I’m feeling a lot more easy.”

Whatever the outcome in Rome, by qualifying for the Final PJ secured a spot for the French team at the World Archery Championships in Mexico City, for which the 2013 world silver medallist has a very clear goal:

“Gold. I want to take gold medal in either individual or team competition and it is possible. I know I can make it, we can make it.”

First, though, is Rome, and in PJ’s last appearance at the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final, in Lausanne in 2014, he finished second.

The 2017 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final takes place on 2/3 September in Rome, Italy.