Perova beats Chang, again, to defend Antalya title

World Archery Champion Ksenia Perova beat world number one Chang Hye Jin in a major final for the second time in the last 12 months, the first being the world title in Mexico City in October 2017. 

Perova took recurve women’s gold at the second stage of the 2018 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Antalya, Turkey after a tight tiebreaker saw her awarded the victory by just a couple of millimetres. 

“I'm really happy and that was a really tough victory because there was a strong wind here and I didn't know how to work with this wind,” said Perova. 

“Also my opponent is a really strong archer, an Olympic Champion, and in my opinion it is a dream of every athlete to win against an Olympic Champion.”

The Russian 29-year-old was 3-1 down after two sets, having shot a five and a four in the second. She won the third when Chang shot a six in the third, both archers clearly struggling with the wind.

“The pivotal end was the third one, there at that end I got upset and I thought I‘d lost, but then I tuned back and decided to win,” said Perova. 

She lost the fourth set, won the fifth and the match ended regulation in a tie.

“We were a long time waiting for the shoot-off. After she shot the nine, I just concentrated on making a good shot, and making a good release,” said Perova.

Chang’s shoot-off arrow went right of centre into the nine. Perova’s answering arrow was high and to the right, a similar distance. 

The judge measured – and it went to Perova.

“It was lucky, but sometimes you are lucky,” she said. “This is sport, and anything can happen.” 

The win means Perova automatically qualifies for the Hyundai World Cup Final in Samsun, Turkey in the autumn. 

Chinese Taipei’s Lei Chien-Ying beat Lee Eun Gyeong of Korea to bronze. 

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

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