Power pair Deloche and Dodemont take gold for France

The French compound mixed team pairing of Pierre-Julien Deloche and Sophie Dodemont beat new world record holders from Korea So Chaewon and Kim Jongho 154-151 to take gold at the second stage of the 2018 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Antalya, Turkey.

It marks Olympian-turned-compounder Dodemont’s first medal since her return to the international circuit at the start of the season. Her last podium at a Hyundai Archery World Cup competition before the hiatus came in Medellin in 2014, when she took gold in the mixed team event with PJ.

“It’s great to have Sophie in the team again. We know each other, and it’s a team which feels really natural,” said Deloche.

“We don’t train together – ever. We just meet in competition. It just works.”

The French duo were seeded seventh and were the underdogs in a final against a Korean pair that shot 160 points with eight arrows in the X-ring to break the 16-arrow 50-metre matchplay world record during the semifinals.

Top-ranked So and Kim were looser in the final though, starting with four nines and falling two points behind early. 

Deloche and Dodemont capitalised with a 40-point end in the third to open up the lead to four points, before holding on in the fourth to win, 154-151.

“To me, mixed team is a harder game. Maybe the hardest in archery competition,” said Deloche. “You don't have so much time to prepare and be comfortable on the shooting line.” 

“And there’s only two of you, so if one of you isn’t in a good mood, it’s really hard to make points and win the match. It’s like hit or miss. You have to be right in the match, or you are out.”

India scored 158 points to beat Belgium’s 155 in the compound mixed team bronze medal match.

The second stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup takes place in Antalya, Turkey on 20-26 May.