Leipzig: Compound Brackets Analysis

 
Kazantseva (RUS) and Goncharova (RUS) at the Ulsan World Cup    Compound Women Individual In any sport, there is often a “group of death” and in Leipzig, this is the case of the last quarter of the Compound Women bracket. Goncharova and Kazantseva (RUS) are friends and even room-mates during competitions. They are also no. 1 and 2 in the FITA World Ranking and Goncharova is the current World Champion and World Cup 2006 Winner. They didn’t have their best day during qualifications and are seeded no 18 and 15. As a result, we should witness a blockbuster match between these two archers in the 1/16 eliminations. This would be only the beginning of a day from hell for the winner of this match who would then face the World no. 3 Van Natta (USA) in the 1/8 elimination, presuming the American got rid of the talented Linda Ochoa in the 1/16. The one who survive this part of the draw would still have to play the European Champion Soemod (DEN) or the FITA Round World Record holder Willems (BEL) in the quarter-finals! In archery, one cannot imagine a tougher group of Compound Women.   In the first quarter of the draw, the no. 1 seed in Leipzig, Anschutz (USA), does not have an easy route either. She should face Almendra Ochoa (MEX) in the 1/8 elimination round. Almendra enjoyed a good season in 2006. It could be a French duel in the other 1/8 eliminations between the young, talented Bouillot (FRA) and the experienced Fabre (FRA). However, Fabre would have to defeat a true giant slayer, Shabani (IRI) and the young talent Anastasio (ITA) in lead up rounds.   The second quarter of the draw will have the surprising Loginova (RUS), no. 5 seed, Marcen (SLO) and the experienced Agudo (ESP) together. One of them should meet Taniguchi (JPN) or Chan (PHI), seed no. 4, in the quarter-finals.   Two Swedish archers will head the third quarter of the draw: no. 3 seed Ericsson and no. 6 seed Olofsson. They may meet in the quarter-finals but their path will not be easy. Ericsson could meet the young talent Nicely (USA) in the 1/16 elimination and then Buden (SLO) or Weihe (GER) in the 1/8. Olofsson has Indoor 2007 silver medallist Salvi (ITA) and Hansdah (IND) in her part of the bracket.   The Compound Women Individual will start the elimination matches on Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m. (local time).   Compound Women Team Favourites USA and Russia are no.1 and no. 2 seeds in the team bracket. The no. 3 seed France will have a difficult first round match against India and there will be some duels between “neighbours”: Italy vs. Spain, Belgium vs. Netherlands and Venezuela vs. Mexico.    Morten Boe (NOR) Compound Men Individual The last quarter of the bracket is also the toughest in Compound Men. The no. 2 seed and World’s 2005 silver medallist Boe (NOR) will have a tough test in the second round, facing Dos Santos (BRA). The Brazilian made 3rd and 4th at the last two World Cup stages but was totally “out of it” during qualifications and earned the 63rd seed. In the same part of the draw, the European Champion Brasseur (FRA) will have to pay attention to the young talent Burri (SUI) -cadet silver medallist in 2006- in the second round. The winner may then face the tough Emiel Custers (NED) in the third round. In this quarter, the no. 1 in the FITA World Ranking Jimenez (ESA) is there as well. He will have to take care of strong archers such as Duo (ESP), Ochoa (MEX) and Haavisto (FIN).   In the first quarter of the bracket, the no. 1 seed Willett Jr. (USA) could have a difficult 1/8 round against the find of the year, Zamaninejad (IRI). The no. 8 seed Coghlan (AUS) has a difficult route as he could meet Sidi Neto (BRA) in the second round, De la Garza (MEX) in the third round and the relentless Karsenty (ISR) in the 1/8 round.   In the second quarter, the young no. 5 seed Damsbo (DEN) will have to avoid and early eliminations. If he survives, he should face World Cup 2006 Winner Reo Wilde (USA) in the 1/8 elimination. Not an easy task! The winner of this match should then face current World Champion Lundin (SWE) in the quarter-finals. Lundin will have to eliminate the likes of Van Zutphen (NED) and Jarvenpaa (FIN) to advance.   Finally, the third quarter of the draw is not too shabby either! No. 3 seed Pagni (ITA) has formidable opponents such as Genet (FRA), White (GBR) and Freeman (AUS), the 2003 World Champion Freeman. Just below in the bracket, two second round matches look deadly. The World Cup 2006 runner-up Elzinga (NED) should face the recent 90m world record holder Hofer (SUI). The Indoor World Champion 2007 Gellenthien (USA) should meet the experienced and past world medallist Sitar (SLO).   Compound Men Team The semi-finals should feature blockbuster matches: USA vs. France and Australia vs. Netherlands. However, the USA will have to defeat the home team Germany in the first round and Australia has a tough second round match against Iran.   In any case, an upset is always possible in archery matches!   Stay tuned to the FITA website for live comments of each round and beware of first round upsets!   Didier Miéville FITA Communication