A Chilean lady on top of the world!

The individual, team and mixed team recurve world titles were all awarded on Sunday, 10 July 2011, after the compound world champions were crowned the day before.   The venue for all finals was Piazza Castello, the old parade ground in the heart of the city, which overlooks by Palazzo Reale, Palazzo Madama, and other symbolic buildings of baroque age.   It is the second time since Korea started competed at world championships (1979) that they fly back home without an individual medal in the recurve women's category. The other only time was in 30 years ago (1981) in Punta Ala, Italy…   Recurve Men Individual   Gold – OH Jin Hyek (KOR/4) v KIM Woojin (KOR/3) The two archers only met once before. It was in 2010 for 1st place at the World Cup in Ogden. KIM won at that time by 7-3.   The match started strongly with two 10s each. Then one 9 each followed for a tie at 1-1. The two teammates could not decide between themselves in the second set with 27 points each. The score remained tied at 2-2.   The two competitors continued with only arrows in the yellow (10-9 ring). But with a triple 9, OH let the 2 set points to KIM, who scored two 9s and a 10 and took the lead 4-2.   In the fourth set, OH then went on with 9-10-9. Opening this set with 10-9, KIM needed a 10 to win the set, and therefore the match… The Korean did it and reached the top of the world (6-2)!   Bronze –IM Dong-Hyun (KOR/1) v Brady ELLISON (USA/2) The American has the statistics on his side, since he won the three matches against the Korean so far. He is the No. 1 archer in the world ranking and the World Cup reigning champion.   ELLISON won the first set with 29 points (27 for IM), 2-0. Again with another 29 in the second set, the American took a comfortable lead at 4-0.   The third set was a copy/paste one more time for ELLISON (29). The match was as short as it could be, as IM could not go higher than 27 points in this set. Final victory for the American, 6-0, who prevented from an all Korean podium!   Semifinal – IM Dong-Hyun (KOR/1) v OH Jin Hyek (KOR/4) IM was still the reigning world champion before this match. The two teammates met in semifinal at the 2009 World Championships in their country. At that time the set system did not exist and IM won the 12-arrow match 112-110. He then lost in the gold final to another Korean. OH was in the team that won the last world championships in Ulsan and the Asian Games last year. He has clinched four team World Cup stages, all team and mixed team together.   IM had the best start with a 29-point (9-10-10) first set. He led 2-0. However, it was then his fellow countryman's turn OH to score two 10s (and a 7) in the second set. As IM only scored 26, the 2 set points were won by OH and the score was tied at 2-2.   In the third set, IM took the lead again thanks to another 29 points, 4-2. But for the second time of the match, OH came back and tied at 4-4. In this set, the latter just left no doubt with three 10s!   The two Koreans started with two 10s each in the final set. The match stayed undecided up to the last arrow. IM was the first to shoot and he scored 8 only. With a 9, OH clinched the 2 set points and revenge from the last world championships (6-4)!   Semifinal – KIM Woojin (KOR/3) v Brady ELLISON (USA/2) The American won the only encounter against the Korean. It was this year in the match for gold at the World Cup in Porec (6-2). ELLISON is the No. 1 in the world and the World Cup champion from Edinburgh. KIM is ranked 2nd in the world ranking. He won the individual title at the Asian Games 2010 and is the current team youth world champion.   With a 7 at his third arrow in the first set, ELLISON let the 2 set points go to his opponents. However, the American then shot a perfect second set. Despite 29 points, KIM could not do anything, and the score was tied at 2-2.   The two archers both continued on a high pace with 29 each for another at 3-3. More consistent in his shooting with 29 for the third time of the match, KIM took back the lead 5-3.   But in the final set, KIM was under pressure after he shot two 9s and his opponent two 10s. With a final 9, ELLISON ensured the two set points to tie at 5-5 and go to a shoot-off.   The tie-break arrow was a 10 for ELLISON, close to the X10-ring. KIM held pressure and scored an X10 just inside to ensure a Korean world title (he will face his teammate OH for gold).   Recurve Women Individual   Gold –Denisse VAN LAMOEN (CHI/36) v Kristine ESEBUA (GEO/39) Nothing less than the world title was at stake in this match between the No. 36 and 39 seeded competitors.   The first 2 set points came into the Chilean lady who scored 27 points, against 26 for her contender from Georgia.   However, VAN LAMOEN had a 6 at the third arrow in the second set. With a poor 24 points, she let the set go to ESEBUA. The Georgian tied the match at 2-2.   In the third set the Chilean pulled herself together to score 28 and take back the lead at 4-2. She missed only two points to become the champion of the world…   What a performance! With a close to perfect final end (29), VAN LAMOEN clinched 2 more set points and became the new world champion (6-2). And what a big success for Chile's new coach, Martin FREDERICK from Germany, who took his function in June!   Bronze – Berengere SCHUH (FRA/16) v FANG Yuting (CHN/3) The No. 3 competitor FANG suffered an upset in semifinal against the No. 39 Kristine ESEBUA from Georgia.   Both SCHUH and FANG started with two arrows on the left of the target, 7 for the Frenchwoman and 8 for the Chinese. With 26 points in the first set only, SCHUH let the 2 set points go to FANG (28).   The Chinese did the exact same second set than her first one (8-10-10). Despite a 1-point improvement (27), the French competitor trailed 0-4 after two sets. The two archers had the same score in the third set (26), and each won 1 set point. The advantage remained at 1-5 in favour of ZHANG.   There was nothing to do for SCHUH to recover in the final set, as her opponent from Asian scored a strong 29 end. First world medal for ZHANG!   Semifinal – Berengere SCHUH (FRA/16) v Denisse VAN LAMOEN (CHI/36) It was the first time ever that the two ladies faced each other in an international competition. SCHUH was Olympic bronze medallist with the team of France at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and European champion in 2008. VAN LAMOEN has certainly been one of the revelations in this event. Seeded No. 36 only, she defeated LE Chieh-Ying (TPE/4) in 1/16, Khatuna LORIG (USA/20) in 1/8, and Khatuna NARIMANIDZE (GEO/12) in quarterfinal.   For her first appearance in world championships finals VAN LAMOEN appeared quite relax on the field. She won the first set by just one point (26-25) and led 2-0. The Chilean was the first to reach the 10-ring. She scored 10-8-10 to win 2 additional set points and lead 4-0.   In the third set one arrow by the Chilean and one by the Frenchwoman were close to the line. After the judge checked those two arrows, there was a tie in the set for a 5-1 score.   Only one point was missing for VAN LAMOEN to reach the gold medal match. The two ladies scored a 9 to start the fourth set. Then SCHUH who looked very tense and was not shooting very well had another 8. Her opponent then scored a 10. The Frenchwoman shot her only 10 of the match at her very final arrow. However, VAN LAMOEN could win the match with an 8 for a tie in the set. What she did win this match!   Semifinal – FANG Yuting (CHN/3) v Kristine ESEBUA (GEO/39) The Chinese entered this match as the 3rd seeded competitor after qualification. In quarterfinal she defeated one of the Korean favourites, HAN Gyeonghee (KOR/11). Her opponent from Georgia has more international experience, as she competed in the World Championships 2003 in New York City. She upset the No. 2 seeded lady JUNG Dasomi (KOR/2) in quarterfinal.   FANG and ESEBUA can boast out being the ones who stopped the Koreans to win any world medal in Turin, something that never happened since the matches were introduced in the Olympic Games 1992 in Barcelona!   The wind started blowing a bit stronger at the beginning of this match. Because of that, and probably also due to tension, the two archers started the match with low scores. The Georgian won the first set however at 23-22 to take the first 2 set points at stake.   In the second set, the two improved their shooting. But ESEBUA scored 28 points, while FANG had 27. The score went up to 4-0 for the Georgian. The third set turned in favour of the Chinese after her opponent scored a triple 8. FANG came back at 2-4.   However, in the fourth set, the Chinese competitor could score 25 only. With 26, her opponent from Georgia clinched 2 additional set points to clinch victory.   Interesting statistics in this match FANG scored a total of 102, while ESEBUA shot 101. But it is what the set system is all about: an archer can recover for a bad set!   Recurve Men Team   Gold – Korea (KOR/1) v France (DEN/3) This was a rematch of the last world championships gold final. In 2009 the Koreans had clinched the title in their home country. The two teams had met four times before with the Asian nation winning all four matches.   The Koreans, entering this match as the favourites, took an early lead with only one arrow out of the yellow (56-54). With a very good, strong second end (four 10s and two 9s) IM/KIM/OH made their advantage go up to five points (114-109).   Each team had an 8 as their opening arrow in the third end. They both continued with five arrows in the yellow. But with one 10 less than their opponents in this end, the French competitors lost one more point and trailed by six with six arrows to go (164-170).   The gap was too important for VALLADONT/PREVOST/GIROUILLE to come back. They could not believe in their chances any longer and the Korean lead increased even more for a final score of 226-217. And the world gold medal was for Korea!   Bronze – Mexico (MEX/5) v Italy (ITA/2) After three face-to-face encounters, Italy leads 3-0. Mexico has never won any team medal at world championships (all men or women together). Since the matches were introduced in 1993 Italy has won all three kinds of medals (gold in 1999, silver in 1997, 2001 and bronze in 2003). Mexico beat the No. 4 team USA led by World Cup champion Brady ELLISON in quarterfinal.   The fourth arrow of each team was the lowest scoring shots: a 7 for the Mexican ALCALA and a 6 for NESPOLI. Mexico led by two points after the first end (52-50).   The two teams then change their shooting order in the second end: Mexico from ALCALA/VELEZ SANCHEZ/SERRANO to SERRANO/VELEZ SANCHEZ/ALCALA, and Italy from NESPOLI/GALIAZZO/FRANGILLI to GALIAZZO/NESPOLI/FRANGILLI. The Mexicans scored 54 points, while the Italians had a 53 series, and increased their lead (106-103).   After the gap was maintained (159-156), the Mexicans needed 16 points at their last two arrows to win. However, on the edge of rupture for a few arrows already VELEZ SANCHEZ released a 6 (!) The last Mexican on the line ALCALA then needed a 10 to win and a 9 to go to a tie-break. But he also collapsed with a final 7, and the bronze medal went to the host country, VIVA ITALIA!   Recurve Women Team   Gold – India (ITA/4) v Italy (ITA/3) The recurve women's Indian team has never reached a podium at the world championships. Italy won silver at the Beijing 2001 event and won the world title in 1999 in Riom, France. They had met seven times before with a small advantage for the Europeans (4-3). The last two encounters were in favour of the Italians, with wins at the Porec 2010 and Shanghai 2009 World Cups. However, the Indians can count on confidence, as they were the ones to upset the favourite Koreans in semifinal.   The head coach of the Italian team, PARK Young-Suk (KOR) was team silver medallist at the previous world championships held in Italy (Punta Ala 1981).   The two teams appeared quite nervous on the field. The shots by the six competitors were not as fluent as usual. After the first end, the scores for each team were quite low, 51-50 for the Indians.   The first 10 by Italy was scored at their tenth shot only. But with two arrows out of the yellow in the second end, they still trailed by one at the half-way mark (102-103).   After two opening 8s by SARTORI and TOMASI to start the third end, the former world champion VALEEVA showed the way to her teammates with a 10. The Italians were back on track with 10-9-10 after that. As their opponents KUMARI/SWURO/DEVI only had a 50-point series at that time, the local team reversed the score to lead by four (157-153).   Tension was at its height in the last end! Before the last three arrows, the Indian team came back to three points and even two points after the Italian SARTORI scored an 8. The last but one arrow was a 9 for each team and the gap remained. As the Indian DEVI finished with another 9 for her team, VALEEVA needed an 8 to win. The experienced Italian did not miss it and scored a 10 to give gold to Italy (210-207)!   Bronze – Korea (KOR/1) v China (CHN/2) The two teams had met ten times in international competitions before. The only victory by China was in semifinal at the 2008 World Cup in Porec. Korea won their last five encounters. It is the third time that the Korean women do not reach the team gold medal match since the matches were introduced in the world championships. They finished 3rd 2001 and were not on the podium in 1999. They won all other world titles (seven since 1993).   The opening arrow for Korea was an 8 by KI, who was back on the field right after winning the world title in the mixed event. But then the Korean and her teammates JUNG and HAN shot two 10s and three 9s. They took a 1-point lead after the first end (55-54).   In the first two ends the Chinese XU/FANG/ZHU had all but two impacts on the right of the target. They were looking for more yellow (10-9 rings). By contrast their opponents from Korea were already in the yellow but they just missed a bit of precision to get more 10s. Korea had a 5-point lead after two ends.   Shooting a little better (55 points), the Chinese team recovered one point in the third end (160-164). In the last end, XU/FANG/ZHU had all their six arrows in the yellow, but they revolved around the 10-ring and scored six 9s. With four 10s and two 9s, KI/JUNG/HAN clinched bronze at the end (222-214).   Recurve Mixed Team   Gold – Korea (KOR/1) v Mexico (MEX/11) The Korean pair IM Dong-Hyun/KI Bo Bae scored two times the highest score of this event: 151 in quarterfinal versus Japan and in semifinal versus Poland. They started as the favourites for the first recurve mixed world title in history. Their opponents Juan Rene SERRANO/Aida ROMAN defeated the No. 6 seeded double from China in 1/8.   Unlike in the bronze medal match, the male archer decided to shoot first in their team in the gold final. The Korean IM had the perfect start with 10s at his first two arrows. But as his teammate had only two 8s, the Asians trailed by one point (36-37).   The two pairs scored 36-point each in the second end and the gap remained in favour of the Mexican double (72-73).   The Koreans made their effort in the third end with 10-10-10-9 to reverse the situation and take a 3-point lead with four arrows to go (111-108).   SERRANO/ROMAN started the final end with two perfect shots. But Koreans perfectly know what pressure means, and IM/KI replied with two 10s also. As the Mexicans finished with two 8s only, their opponents made the most of it with two other 10s. The Korean pair won the first event recurve mixed team's world title (151-144).   Bronze – Poland (POL/13) v Great Britain (GBR/7) Jacek PROC/Justyna MOSPINEK from Poland kicked out Italy (4) and India (5), but they lost to the favourite Korean pair the semifinal. The British Laurence GODFREY/Amy OLIVER upset the second seeded team Chinese Taipei in quarterfinal and then lost to Mexico. Poland and Great Britain faced each other for the first ever recurve mixed team bronze.   After the two teams started with two 10s each, all four other arrows of the first end were out of the yellow (10-9 rings): 8-8 for Great Britain and 7-8 for Poland. GODFREY/OLIVER in the lead at 36-35.   The Englishman continued with two other brilliant 10s, the last one shot with just five seconds left on the clock. As the Polish pair had a poor end of 31 points only, they trailed by seven (!) points at 66-73.   The gap even increased after twelve arrows. GODFREY/OLIVER scored a good series of two 10s and two 9s. They had the match in hand: a 9-point lead (111-102) with only four arrows to go for each team.   Though the British lady shook a little with pressure at her last arrow with a 7, she could lean on her teammate who shot five 10s (76 out of 80 points) in the match to clinch the bronze medal.   The World Archery Championships 2011 in Turin have ended now.   But stay tuned for the World Archery Para Championships that follow from 10-17 July!   World Archery Communication