China makes it three consecutive World Cup recurve women team stage finals

It was a morning full of shootoff drama as China pipped Türkiye to reach their third consecutive World Cup gold medal match at Antalya 2026 - stage three of the international premier circuit.

Jingyi Zhu and Yuwei Huang were both in the trio that thrashed Türkiye 6-0 in Puebla [stage one] and came close to getting their second top podium of the season in Shanghai [stage two] but fell short - surprisingly - at home to India, 5-4.

They, plus the arrival of Tlaxcala 2024 World Cup Final champion Li Jiaman, were the home shootoff party poopers this time though, at the Gloria Sports Arena - Türkiye's main training centre - as they defeated the recent 14th Conquest Cup runners-up Dunya Yenihayat, Elif Gokkir and 17-year-old Canse Duru Tarakci, who together mustered nine, nine, eight in the sudden death.

Huang dropped her arrow in the all-important 10-ring whilst Jingyi registered a nine and Jiaman an eight to make it 27-26 and seal yet another guaranteed team medal for China.

“Whether it's the right path or not, I'm trying my best to move forward,” said Jiaman, who is currently competing to join Gwangju 2025 World Championship runner-up Jingyi in China's official team for the upcoming 20th Asian Games. “Recently, I've been focusing on adjusting my condition. Since last year's competition, I've been in the process of training, and there have been some family issues to resolve.”

“I've also been addressing my shoulder injury, which is being treated accordingly, so the next step is to further refine my training process.”

If getting to a gold medal match in your first World Cup of the season is a hallmark of “refining the process”, then all points well for Jiaman getting on the plane to Aichi-Nagoya, where she will be desperate to avenge China's loss to Korea in Hangzhou three years ago.

Türkiye, who have not long come back from a disappointing fourth-place finish at the European Outdoor Championships 2026 a couple of weeks ago, also in Antalya - albeit at the Centennial Centre rather than the Gloria Sports Arena - will obviously not be going to Japan, but today's encounter between the two nations did feel like a rivalry being born.

In 30 degrees celsius heat, the wind remained on the field in the morning session, but that was not the top of the archers' issues in the semifinals.

Both China and Türkiye coaches behind the shooting line were vociferous to say the least - echoes of the memorable Korea versus China recurve men's team match in Shanghai 2025 last year - with cheers in their respective languages bellowing across the pitch, arrow after arrow.

There was, of course, another match occurring at the same time in Korea versus Mexico, with the latter stunning the 10 consecutive Olympic gold medallists - also via shoot-off - and all teams were duly reminded by head judge of the tournament Kathleen Anne Lipscomb to be respectful in the matches.

“These are things that athletes have to accept,” added Jiaman on what she was thinking during the intensity. “It's not just the coach; sometimes the audience's influence is also a factor. I think these are things that we shooters have to go through.”

Whilst three straight stage appearances in the World Cup may sound like China breezing past the competition this season, this particular match is an example that it is not just luck that is on their side, but the ability to withstand emotions form themselves and their coaches to get the job done.

Puebla bronze medallists Mexico stand in their way.

Competition continues this afternoon in Antalya with compound and recurve mixed team eliminations currently ongoing.

Finals: Antalya 2026

• Recurve men team: Korea versus USA
• Recurve women team: Mexico versus China

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