FRANGILLI, LAURSEN, WILDE and LOGINOVA win Indoor Challenge

Michele FRANGILLI (ITA)    For the second year in a row, the indoor tournament of Las Vegas featured the Archery World Cup Indoor Challenge final stage on 12 February 2011. The winners of the Indoor Challenge 2011 are Michele FRANGILLI (ITA) in recurve men, Louise Klinge LAURSEN (DEN) in recurve women, Reo WILDE (USA) in compound men and Albina LOGINOVA (RUS) in compound women.   Only the archers who participated at the Nimes tournament in January could qualify for the Archery World Cup Indoor Challenge Final that took place on Saturday night in Las Vegas. They qualified upon their results in Nimes and their ranking after two days in the Vegas tournament.   In recurve men, the 2010 outdoor World Cup Final winner, the winner in Nimes and the defending champion of the Indoor Challenge Brady ELLISON (USA) was defeated 7-1 in quartefinals already by his teammate Jake KAMINSKI. After beating the No. 1 seed Crispin DUENAS (CAN) 6-2 in semifinal, KAMINSKI finished 2nd after he was defeated 7-3 by Michel FRANGILLI (ITA). While FRANGILLI won gold and KAMINSKI silver, DUENAS took bronze together with Thomas AUBERT (FRA).   The competition in recurve women promised to be quite open. Last year's winner Brandi MANTHA (USA) lost in the first round (1/8 elimination) already, defeated by her teammate Kristin Madel BRAUN, 4-6. Valentine DE GIULI (SUI), who was the 2010 runner-up, qualified 5th but lost 7-3 in quarterfinal against Naomi FOLKARD (GBR). The British lady made her way up to the gold final after beating Kristin Madel BRAUN (USA) 6-0 in semifinal. In the gold medal match, however, FOLKARD tripped over Louise Klinge LAURSEN (DEN), 4-6. The bronze medal in this category was for BRAUN and Karine RANSON (FRA).       Albina LOGINOVA (RUS)In compound men, the defending champion Braden GELLENTHIEN (USA) was seeded No. 2 after the Nimes and Las Vegas rounds. He defeated two fellow countrymen Dave COUSINS 6-4 in quarterfinal and then Jesse BROADWATER on the same score in semifinal. Shooting for gold GELLENTHIEN faced another American elite archer Reo WILDE, No. 1 seed. The latter had a perfect shooting in this final and clinched the title 6-4. The bronze medal went to BROADWATER and Martin DAMSBO (DEN).   On the women's side Jamie VAN NATTA (USA), who is always a favourite, was seeded No. 1 after the qualification stages in Nimes and Las Vegas. After easily taking over Sarah PRIEELS (BEL) in quarterfinals, 7-1, the American then lost on the same score against the No. 4 seed Albina LOGINOVA (RUS). The Russian won gold after a final victory over Gladys WILLEMS (BEL), 6-2. The current No. 1 in the world Nicky HUNT (GBR) and her fellow British archer Nichola SIMPSON were both defeated in quarterfinal. HUNT lost 2-6 to WILLEMS who then went to win the silver medal. SIMPSON suffered defeat versus Yumiko HONDA (JPN) on the score of 6-5 after a shoot-off. HONDA and VAN NATTA were bronze medallists.   Find all results of the Archery World Cup Indoor Challenge here and of the World Archery Festival here.   World Archery Communication