Mete Gazoz continues scoresheet-topping streak at European Championships

Turkey’s Mete Gazoz scored 686 out of a possible 720 points to lead recurve men’s qualification at the 2018 European Archery Championships in Legnica, as Lisa Unruh, Tanja Jensen and Mike Schloesser also took top seedings.

“It makes me so confident at the end of the qualification to be in first place. It also puts pressure on my opponents during the eliminations,” said 19-year-old Gazoz.

“I finished second [at this competition] in 2016 and this time I would like to get the gold.”

Since breaking out in senior competition at the European Archery Championships in 2016, where he finished with a silver medal, Mete has made his Olympic debut and recently risen to number six in the world rankings.

He won his first stage gold on the Hyundai Archery World Cup circuit, in Berlin, qualifying for the final in Samsun in the process.

Mete has also scored more than 680 points for the 72-arrow 70-metre round at five consecutive international tournaments.

The success has not gone unnoticed in Turkey, with Mete hitting national news more than once.

“It is really good to know that people are following and how I might get success during the season because archery was not so famous in Turkey but now more people know,” he said.

“This has a really positive effect on my motivation and on my performance, also my team members get a good feeling from this interest in archery.”

Gazoz was eight points clear at the top of recurve men’s qualifying in Legnica, ahead of France’s Thomas Chirault. Steve Wijler (676), Dan Olaru (675), Mauro Nespoli (675), Pierre Plihon (673), Miguel Alvarino Garcia (672) and Pablo Acha (671) completed the top eight.

Lisa Unruh led the recurve women’s ranking round with 665 points, tied on points with German teammate Elena Richter but ahead on 10s.

“I’m really happy because my season wasn’t that good for the qualification rounds. The last weeks were a bit tough because I’ve always been shooting under 650 and it was, ugh, exhausting,” said Unruh. 

“I was training really hard the last weeks and now, 665, it’s a really good result for me this year. I’m really happy.”

Yasemin Anagoz (662), Laura Nurmsalu (657), Inna Stepanova (656), Alicia Marin (652), Ksenia Perova (652) and Anna Balsukova (650) completed the recurve women’s top eight.

Despite seeding first overall in the compound men’s competition with 706 out of a possible 720 points for the 72-arrow 50-metre round, world number one Mike Schloesser said he “struggled [for] all 72 arrows”.

“It was difficult, difficult, difficult,” he added. “I’d rather look at myself that look at where I’m at because I’m pretty sure there were more points in it today.”

“My last three ends were really good, so that’s what I’m going to focus on. I had some really good ends, so that’s what I’m gonna focus on.”

Martin Damsbo ranked second on 704, Sergio Pagni third on 703. Anton Bulaev (702), Domagoj Buden (702), Jean Philippe Boulch (701), Reginald Kools (701) and Mario Vavro (701) completed the compound men’s top eight.

Tanja Jensen (702) and Marcella Tonioli (700) were the only compound women to break the 700-point mark.

Sophie Dodemont (699), Toja Ellison (697), Sarah Prieels (697), Irene Franchini (696), Yesim Bostan (696) and Lena Meynen Degryse (695) completed the compound women’s top eight.

As well as awarding European titles, the championships in Legnica also act as the main qualification tournament for the Minsk 2019 European Games.

The 2018 European Archery Championships takes place on 28 August to 1 September in Legnica, Poland.