Germany splits team bronze finals with hosts China

Germany’s recurve men beat China, 5-3, while the women’s team fell to the hosts of the first stage of the 2018 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Shanghai, 6-2, in their bronze medal match.

“It was a great pleasure to shoot in this venue,” said Max Weckmueller. “From the beginning we were tied but then took a lead. It was close and exciting.”

“It’s my first world cup in Shanghai and taking a medal makes it perfect.”

Florian Kahllund, Weckmueller and Felix Wieser split each of the first two sets with the Chinese men, failing to capitalise on wayward sevens from Wang Dapeng and Ding Yiliang.

“The wind here was a little bit tricky because it was always changing from front to back, right to left and the other way around. It was for both of us; China also shot a few reds,” said Florian.

A 57-point set in the third put the European athletes in the driving seat, before Kahllund secured the win with a last 10 to close the fourth set.

The sixth seeded team and featuring Olympic silver medallist Lisa Unruh, the German recurve women’s team didn’t find a rhythm in their bronze final. But, then, neither did China – with both squads landing sevens.

Two sets made the difference – a 53-point effort from China in the first, to Germany’s 51, and the last six arrows. The hosts took that, 54-53.

The first stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup takes place in Shanghai, China on 23-29 April.