Rainy start for archery in Kaohsiung!

Rainy start for archery in Kaohsiung! Kaohsiung (TPE) – 24 July 2009   On Friday morning the 95 athletes of the field archery competition at the Kaohsiung 2009 World Games were eager to shoot around the beautiful Chengcing Lake, the venue for this event. Unfortunately, heavy rains started pouring just before the start and that made it difficult for the archers.   Most of the archers who compete at the World Games qualified at the Field World Championships last year in Llwynypia, Wales (GBR). They also shot under difficult weather conditions there so today had a “déjà vu” feeling.   At the World Games, competition is tougher for two reasons. Only the top athletes qualified and they shoot only two qualification rounds to cut to the top four per category. Today the archers shot on 24 unmarked (no given distance) targets and tomorrow, they will play on 24 marked targets (the distance is known). The top four per category will play semifinal and final matches of four targets on Sunday. The archers shoot three arrows per target and can get six points per arrow at the most.   Recurve Men The experienced Victor WUNDERLE (USA) topped this category after the first day. He shot 377 points, meaning an average of 15.7 (out of 18). Not bad for such a rainy day! WUNDERLE is a versatile archer! In the regular outdoor competitions, he won two medals at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and ranked 8th last year in Beijing. On the field competitions, he was team world champion and individual bronze medallist at the 2006 World Championships in Goteborg, Sweden. WUNDERLE preceded Giuliano PALMIOLI (ITA) with 372 points and Alan WILLS (GBR) with 371. WILLS was silver medallist at the Duisburg 2005 World Games. The current world champion Sebastian ROHRBERG (GER) was 4th with 368 points. He created a little gap in front of his pursuers which are Yuki SAKAEYAMA (JPN), Cedric BYROTHEAU (FRA) and Michele FRANGILLI (ITA) who was the winner in Duisburg.   Recurve Women The current world champion Jessica TOMASI (ITA) was 1st with 356 points ahead of the 2001 World Games winner Carole FERRIOU (FRA) who earned 347! The Olympian Naomi FOLKARD (GBR) as well as Lisa UNRUH (GER) achieved 343 points. They created a gap over the 5th place, HUANG Cheng-An from Chinese Taipei! She had 334 points.   Compound Men The 2004 world champion Chris WHITE (GBR) topped the ranking with 413 points and an average of 17.2 points per target. Kevin WILKEY (USA) and Marko JARVENPAA (FIN) followed in close range, respectively with 412 and 411. Alessandro LODETTI (ITA) and Sander DOLDERMAN (NED) were tied at 4th place with 407 points. The race between them will be tight tomorrow for the semifinals berth. The current world champion Rod MENZER (USA) finished 7th with 401 points. It will be difficult for him to come back in the top four.   Compound Women The former world record holder Gladys WILLEMS (BEL) led the day with 400 points. Inge ENTHOVEN (NED) was 2nd with 398 and Petra GOEBEL (AUT) 3rd with 397. These three are in good shape for the qualifications. Ivana BUDEN (CRO), who usually shines in the Archery World Cup, showed her field skills today. She finished 4th with 392 and has a little gap over the 5th place hold by Malin JOHANSSON (SWE) and Silke HOETTECKE (GER) with 387.   Barebow Men The 2006 world champion Giuseppe SEIMANDI (ITA) ranked 1st with 363 and an average of 15.1 points per target. Pasi AHJOKIVI (FIN) was 2nd with 361. The 2008 world champion Sergio CASSIANI was 3rd with 340 and Martin OTTOSON (SWE) 4th with 336. At 5th place, Josef MEYER (GER) had 331. The double World Games winner Erik JONSSON (SWE) did not have a good day. He was 10th with 323 points.   Barebow Women Another Italian topped the ranking, Eleonora STROBBE. She had 330 points, 10 more than Monika JENTGES (GER). Victoria KALMARU (GBR) had 308 and Christine GAUTHE (FRA) , 305. At the 5th place, the current world champion Becky NELSSON-HARRIS (USA) had 302 points and she will definitely contend for a top four finish tomorrow.   Didier MIEVILLE FITA Communication