A young Canadian champion of the world and LOGINOVA repeats

  All compound finals took place at the Piazza Castello in the heart of the city. Piazza Castello is the old parade ground. It is overlooked by Palazzo Reale, Palazzo Madama, and other symbolic buildings of baroque age.   Compound Men Individual   Gold –Jesse BROADWATER (USA/2) v Christopher PERKINS (CAN/5) Both competitors shot in their first elite world championships gold medal final. The young Canadian did not seem impressed by what was at stake in this match: the world title!   Coached by his teammate Dietmar TRILLUS who won the world championships in 2007, PERKINS started with three fantastic ends and a perfect score after nine arrows. He had a 2 point lead at 90-88.   In the fourth end, the Canadian's shooting took a bit of a downward turn with 10-9-9. His neighbour from the U.S. took this opportunity to score a perfect 3-arrow series that tied the score. BROADWATER was back in the race at 118-118.   The two archers remained back to back with only one arrow to go (two 10s each). Shooting first BROADWATER scored a 9, which gave an opening to his contender.   PERKINS did not miss this chance. He did not shake at all. With a perfect last shot he took the world championship title!   Bronze – Reo WILDE (USA/1) v Gabriel BADENHORST (RSA/19) What a start for the American in this match for bronze! With an amazing group right in the middle of the target and then 30 points twice in the following ends, WILDE had a perfect score after nine arrows.   Despite good shooting, BADENHORST trailed by three points with only two ends to go, 87-90.   As far as it concerned WILDE, despite a perfect 130 after 13 arrows, he could not beat his own world record (150/10) since he had eight X10s so far. He could tie it though if he finished with two more X10s with his two final arrows, but the American then released a …9 and there were mutterings and applause in the audience and a big smile on his face! Giving the people what they want, WILDE clinched the bronze medal with another X10!   For his first appearance at a world championships event, there was nothing to say about BADENHORST's performance, who finally ranked 4th. He can be proud of this performance in Turin!   Semifinal – Reo WILDE (USA/1) v Christopher PERKINS (CAN/5) Defending his crown successfully so far, WILDE once again proved super fit, setting two new world records in qualification (50m Round), one with the team (2130) and one for individual (714). In the elimination matches his lowest score was 146 (out of 150). However, he knew he would have a hard time with PERKINS, who scored 148 and 149 twice each in the previous rounds.   The young 19 year-old Canadian had a good start with 29 points. His more experienced neighbour took a 1-point lead with a perfect opening end. Despite competing in his first elite world championships ever and against the world title defender, PERKINS tied the game, in turn shooting a 30-point end.   He then followed with two other fantastic 30 ends to take a 2-point lead over the world champion! PERKINS and WILDE started the final end with 10 each. Tension could not have been higher than at that time of the match…   With a 10, the American put lots of pressure on his young opponent who scored a 9. Trailing by only point and shooting another 10 at his final arrow, WILDE left his opponent alone on the field to decide the outcome of the match: a 10 by PERKINS would give victory to the Canadian and a 9 would lead to a shoot-of… With a 10 touching the spider PERKINS upset the favourite who woud not be able to defend his title!   Semifinal – Gabriel BADENHORST (RSA/19) v Jesse BROADWATER (USA/2) BADENHORST is the reigning South African champion. His best result on the international scene was 4th place in the team event in Antalya this year. He defeated none less than the double World Cup champion (2009, 2010) Sergio PAGNI (ITA/6) in the quarterfinal. BROADWATER was part of the American team who won the Ogden World Cup last year. He was also team indoor world champion in 2009. Seeded No. 2 after qualification in Turin, he started as the favourite in this match.   The best start went to the South African competitor with a perfect end but the situation reversed as it was his opponent's turn to score 30 points in the second end. BROADWATER then doubled his lead at 89-87 after another 30 series.   BADENHORST had two 9-10-10 series in a row at the third and fourth ends. The 2-point gap remained at 128-126 in favour of BROADWATER with only one end to go. The two archers clinched the match with 10-9-10 each and the difference remained for an American victory. BROADWATER will try to avenge his teammate WILDE in the gold medal final!   Compound Women Individual   Gold – Pascale LEBECQUE (FRA/36) v Albina LOGINOVA (RUS/2) Some little drops of rain started to fall at the beginning of the match. Would this stop LOGINOVA from defending her title as champion of the world successfully?                                             The Russian started this match as the favourite: she had more experience of this kind of situation and came out the winner in their two head-to-head encounters. The last time they met was in the gold final at the European Grand Prix in Boe, France back in May.   Though in the lead after three arrows, LEBECQUE saw her opponent come back after a 10-10-10 series by the Russian. The Frenchwoman trailed by one after two ends, but she managed to tie the match up at 86-86.   Another perfect series by the reigning champion in the fourth end gave the lead back to LOGINOVA at 116-115. Still in the race for gold in this match, LEBECQUE was caught up by pressure and opened the final end with a 7. That was enough for her opponent to get hold of the match and clinch victory 144-140. LOGINOVA did it again!    Bronze – Parsamehr MAHTAB (IRI/8) v Erika ANSCHUTZ (USA/6) The young Iranian and American ladies had to get over huge disappointment of losing in the semifinal as they had the bronze medal match ahead.   Maybe not yet back into total focus ANSCHUTZ scored an 8 at her first arrow and trailed by one point after three.   The American took advantage of two 27-point series by her opponent to recover and take the lead 84-82 after three ends. ANSCHUTZ had got the hang of the match and the gap kept increasing: 112-109, 140-135.   With one 8 in the third end and another in the fifth and only two 10s for the whole match, MAHTAB could not hope for better than 4th place in these championships. Bronze for ANSCHUTZ!   Semifinal – Parsamehr MAHTAB (IRI/8) v Pascale LEBECQUE (FRA/36) The Iranian and French women had never met before. LEBECQUE, who was only 36th after qualification, defeated the No. 4 Linda OCHOA (MEX/4) after a shoot-off in 1/16 and the No. 5 SEOK Ji Hyun (KOR/5) in quarterfinal. MAHTAB has been one of the archers on form lately with a win in Antalya one month before.   The first individual semifinal of the weekend was between an Iranian and a Frenchwoman. After opening with a 10, MAHTAB made a mistake at the third shot and scored only a 6. With 9-9-10, LEBECQUE had a 3-point lead after the first end (28-25).   MAHTAB and LEBECQUE both appeared extremely nervous on the field. Though it seemed the Frenchwoman was the most tense, she showed strong shooting with a perfect 30 second end to increase her lead at 58-54. The gap was maintained after three ends with the two competitors scoring 28 points each.   Taking advantage of a 26-point series by her opponent in the fourth end, the Iranian competitor came back to two points, 110-112. However, in the final end the Frenchwoman managed to score two 10s to clinch victory 140-137 and the first ticket for the gold final!   Semifinal – Erika ANSCHUTZ (USA/6) v Albina LOGINOVA (RUS/2) The reigning world champion LOGINOVA did not fall short of expectations so far in these championships by reaching the semifinal. As the American WILDE in the men's event, she was still in the race to defend her title. ANSCHUTZ won the 2010 World University Championships and the first World Cup this year in Porec. The two had met five times before this match with a 4-1 advantage for the American.   LOGINOVA drew on experience from world championships individual finals in the beginning of the match. As the reigning champion of the world, the Russian started with a perfect 30 points. However, her opponent from USA also shot a 30-point in the second end to recover one point and stay in touch at 56-59.   The third end was in favour of LOGINOVA who took a 4-point lead again at 88-84 but ANSCHUTZ still wanted to keep the match alive and came back one more time to three points behind (113-116) with three arrows to go.   In the final end, the American put some pressure on her opponent with 10-10-9. After shooting 10-9, the Russian needed an 8 to win. She scored a final 9 and won the right to defend her title later in the day.   Compound Men Team   Gold – United States (USA/1) v Denmark (DEN/3) These two have met three times for gold at the World Cup (Porec 2010, 2011, Antalya 2011) and the USA came out the winners each time though each time on tight scores. Besides, the Americans GELLENTHIEN/BROADWATER/WILDE set a new world record for 24 arrows with 239 (previous: 237) in their quarterfinal match.   What a start for team USA with a perfect 60 in the first end! Despite two 9s and four 10s, the Danes LAURSEN/JOHANNESSEN/DAMSBO trailed by two points.   The two teams scored 59 points each in the second end. Only BROADWATER and LAURSEN had one arrow out of the 10-ring for their team. The 2-point advantage remained for USA (119-117).   With a team shooting close to perfection in front of them, the Danish archers felt completely powerless… Although they shot all the arrows in the yellow (10-9 ring) and finished with 10-10-10, there was nothing to do for the competitors from Europe.   The U.S. team tied the world record they set previously in these championships with a 239 score out of a possible 240! Yet another gold medal for the USA and also Reo WILDE's 11th world title, adding all of his individual and team events together.   Bronze – Korea (KOR/5) v Canada (CAN/2) The Koreans CHOI/KIM/MIN scored 236 points in both the 1/8 and 1/4 elimination rounds but then lost to the No. 1 team USA in the semi-final with only227. Their opponents for bronze PERKINS/ROUSSEAU/TRILLUS from Canada had 237 in the first round and then 234 twice, enough to beat Mexico in the 1/8 but not enough against Denmark in the semis.   Experts agree that Korea will be one of the next powerhouses in compound. However, the lead in this bronze medal went to Canada after one end (56-55). It was interesting to note that the Canadian team had their top recurve archer Jay LYON in the coaching box for this match.   The gap then increased dangerously for Korea's MIN/KIM/CHOI. Their opponents from North America scored a close-to-perfection second end with 59 points and led 115-110 at the halfway mark.   The two teams then scored all arrows in the yellow, with four 10s and two 9s each. The lead remained in favour of ROUSSEAU/TRILLUS/PERKINS (173-168).   The Koreans had two hesitant shots in the final end but still managed three 10s out of their six arrows. They scored 56 points to finish the match with 224. However, with only one arrow out of the gold (10-9 zone) in the whole match, Canada proved the most consistent team on the field and clinched the world bronze medal with a total of 230.   Compound Women Team   Gold – United States (USA/1) v Iran (IRI/3) The Iranian team beat USA in the semifinals at the Antalya 2010 World Cup Stage. However, the next three encounters between the two nations turned to the advantage of the Americans, the latest being for gold in Antalya in June this year.   The American VAN NATTA started the match with only an 8 but her team then followed with four 10s and a 9 and took a 3-point lead after the first end (57-54).   COLIN received a yellow card by the judge for crossing the line too soon. She should have waited for her teammate VAN NATTA to come back from the shooting line before advancing. Although under time pressure after this incident, the experienced Americans scored four 10s in the second end. The Iranian HALIMIANAVVAL could have tied the score with a 10 to close the first half of the match but with a 7, the Iranian team still trailed at 109-114.   Both teams showed very strong shots in the third end. Team USA had five 10s and their opponents from Iran four 10s out of 6, the three other arrows being 9s. A comfortable lead remained for the Americans at 173-167.   In this match, VAN NATTA/COLIN/ANSCHUTZ just proved too strong for MAHTAB/SARLAK/HALIMIANAVVAL. And another gold medal for USA!   Bronze – Venezuela (VEN/5) v Mexico (MEX/15) These two countries had met five times before, with the advantage going to Mexico with four wins. The only victory of Venezuela over Mexico was at the Central American and Caribbean Games gold final in 2010.   The Venezuelans MENDOZA/GUEDEZ/BOSCH opened the match with two 10s and followed with four 9s. The second Mexican shooter, DE LA CONCHA, shot an 8 with her team's fifth arrow. Mexico trailed by one point at 55-56.   With three 8s in the second end as well as a 7 at the final arrow of the series, the Mexican team saw the gap increased dangerously, 105-111, at the halfway mark!   OCHOA/DE LA CONCHA/CRISTANTO appeared very tense and nervous on the field in this match. The bronze medal at stake was probably the reason. After one 9 each in the opening of the third end, they scored two 10s and a 9. The Mexican ladies recovered two points to trail by four with six arrows to go (161-166).   However, six final arrows in the gold (two 10s and four 9s) were enough for the team of Venezuela to stay in the lead. They clinched the world bronze medal on the score of 220-215 and could burst out joyfully!   Compound Mixed Team   Gold – Italy (ITA/9) v Netherlands (NED/7) The first mixed team world title in archery history was to be awarded to either Italy or the Netherlands. In the quarterfinal, the Italian double Sergio PAGNI/Marcella TONIOLI set a new world record with 158, eclipsing the previous mark by two (156 also set by Italy at Antalya World Cup in June 2011).   With only a few seconds on the clock the individual World Cup champion PAGNI released his team's fourth 10 of the first end. The Italian pair clinched a 1-point lead at 40-39.   The first two arrows of each team in the second end went a bit high. The Italians scored one 9 each and followed with a 10 each, PAGNI once again with only two seconds on the clock. The Dutchwoman VAN CASPEL scored two 10s, while her teammate had only two 9s. The Netherlands still trailed by one (77-78).   The third end was another perfect end for the Italian double (after the one in the first end). PAGNI/TONIOLI increased their lead at 118-116.   Wind started to blow a bit at the beginning of the last end. The final eight arrows were all 9s and the gap remained the same. The local favourite pair thus clinched the first mixed team world champion title ever awarded!   Bronze – Korea (KOR/5) v Iran (IRI/3) The Korean double CHOI Yong Hee/SEOK Ji Hyun was defeated in the semi-final by the Italian pair, the new world record holders for the 16-arrow match. Iran's Amir KAZEMPOOR/Parsamehr MAHTAB lost to the Dutch double by 151-155. However, the two teams still had the first ever mixed team bronze medal in sight!   The Iranian lady MAHTAB was the very first on the shooting line and scored a 9. In this first end the two male competitors shot two 10s each. The Iranian woman had a 9 and a 10, while her female counterpart scored two 9s. The lead was one point for Iran (29-28).   In the second end, CHOI/SEOK shot strongly with a perfect series of four arrows. Adding 40 points to their total, they tied the match at 78-78, after MAHTAB shot a 9 at her second arrow in this end.   The Iranian male competitor KAZEMPOOR hit the outside of the 10-ring (a 9) for the first time of the match at his second arrow in the third end. As the Korean double shot their second perfect end of the match, they took a 2-point lead with one end to go (118-116).   Though the Korean male archer CHOI scored an 8 in the last end, his team managed to keep a 1-point advantage at the end and clinched the first mixed team bronze medal in history (155-154)!   After the compound on Saturday, the world champions in recurve will be crowned on Sunday.   World Archery Communication