Arch-rivals USA and France in the two men's team gold finals

 
The morning session was dedicated to the team competition, while the mixed teams will get to the field in the afternoon.  Recurve Men Team – 1/8 The first round was fatal to two of the top 8 nations! The 2004 Olympic runners-up from Italy (6) were knocked out by the Dutch (11). Tied 56-56, the Italians then trailed by 111-113 before they recovered and took the lead at 168-167. However, in the last end, their opponents did not miss the yellow ring (all 10s and 9s) and scored 57 points out of 60. The "Arruri" for their part shot two 8s and only 54 points and let it go 222-224!   Two matches were very close in the 1/8 eliminations. Australia (9) led all the way against China (8) and kept increasing their lead before the last end (57-56, 115-112, 172-167). However, with two 8s to finish the match (54 points in the last end), they could have lost it all… The Aussies were lucky that the Chinese did not seize the opportunity (57 points) and they had a 2-point lead left at the end, 226-224.   The No. 5 seeded nation, USA, was given a hard time by the No. 12, Spain. The Europeans led after the first and second ends (58-57, 114-113), but they then followed with 54 points only. With a 58-point third end, the Americans took the lead for the first time of the match (171-168) and did not let it go in their final six arrows (225-223).   Recurve Men Team – Quarter-finals Except for France (2) against Chinese Taipei (7), 230-221, and USA (5) versus India (4), 225-221, the two other quarterfinals were very closely fought. The No. 1 team, Korea, was closed to elimination against the No. 9, Australia. The Asian favourites trailed 164-166 with only six arrows to go but with 59 points in the last end, they came back in the race. Despite maintaining good shooting with 56 to conclude, the Australians had to concede defeat at the end by one point (222-223).   One point difference also in the match between Ukraine (3) and the Netherlands (11)! The Dutch missed the opportunity to beat one of the best teams in the world. Leading after each of the first three ends (58-55, 115-111, 169-167), two out of their last six arrows were fatal. While the Ukrainians scored four 9s and two 10s, the Dutch shot four 10s, but also one 7 and one 6… and conceded defeat by one point (222-223).   Recurve Men Team – Semi-finals What a match between Korea and the USA! The Koreans took an early lead 55-54, but they followed up with 9-10-9-9-9-9 (55), not sufficient at this level. The Americans scored 10-10-10-9-9-10 (58) and led 112-110. Korea came back with 58 points in the third end, while the USA shot 57. The Americans maintained a 1-point advantage, 169-168. They concluded with 58 points, while the Koreans scored 10-10-10-10-9-10! Tied match, 227-227! However, in the shoot-off, Korea started with an 8 and lost their chance. They scored 26 points, while the USA had 29.   The other semi-final was as tight as the first one! France led 57-56, but then the French scored only 54 points in the second end. Ukraine led 113-111. France came back with a 59 in the third end; the scores were tied at 170-170. Both teams shot 54 in the last end for a final score of 224-224, shoot-off! Ukraine scored 10-9-8 in the tie-break. France scored 10-10-9 to reach another final at the top level!  Recurve Women Team – 1/8 Two upsets in the first round in recurve women! The teams of Italy (6) and France (7) were defeated by lower ranked nations, Ukraine (11) and Poland (10). The scores were 217-212 in the match lost by the Italian world champions, and 215-211 for the Ukrainian ladies against the Polish.   In cold weather conditions, three teams reached 220 points or more. The favourite Koreans (1) shot the highest score of the round and defeated Switzerland (16) 225-206. The Russians (5) showed strong skills as well, 224-201 against the Australians (12) and the local team of China (4) scored 220 to kick out Mongolia (13) with 208.   Recurve Women Team – Quarterfinals Among the top 4 nations three have made it to the semis. Korea (1) beat USA (8) by 225-216; India (2) defeated Poland (10), 224-216; and China (4) kicked out Russia (5) on the score of 222-213;   In the last quarter-final match, Ukraine (11) prevented an all-Asian representation in the medal matches! It was not at all easy for the European team facing the 3rd seeded nation, Chinese Taipei (3). The two teams were tied at 162-162 before the last end. Tension was high! As the Ukrainians concluded with only 53 points, their opponents shot an even lower score with 52 and lost the match 214-215.   Recurve Women Team – Semi-finals Korea and China were tied at 54-54 after the first end and then the Chinese team took the lead 109-108. However, the Korean team finished very strong with 10-10-10-10-9-9 (58) and 10-10-10-10-10-9 (59). They won the match 225-217. In the other semi-final India dominated Ukraine. The Indian team led 114-105 at the half-way mark and took the match 221-213.   The recurve team finals will take place on the River Boulevard on Saturday.  Compound Men Team – 1/8 There were four matches in compound men, all other teams having byes in the first round. The Italians (5) showed very strong shooting, setting a new national record with 237 points. With such a score they easily got the upper hand on their opponents from Mongolia (12) with 223.   Two other nations had comfortable wins in this round. India (6) defeated Hong Kong, China (11) 231-214, and Mexico (8) beat Vietnam (9) 228-220. The last match was tighter between Australia (7) and Turkey (10). The Aussies were leading by two points (59-57), three (116-113) and four (174-170). The Turks scored 29 points in the last end but this was not enough to recover (232-229).   Compound Men Team – Quarterfinals After the Italian team in the previous round, two other countries reached 237 points in the second. USA (1) defeated Mexico (8) 237-233, while France (2) beat Australia (7) 237-229. Starting with two perfect ends, the No. 3 seed Venezuela also achieved a high score, 234, to dismiss India (6) with 229.   The new Italian record holders crashed to earth in the second round as they were tied by the Iranians (4) after the first (58-58), second (115-115) and third (174-174) ends. However, the "Azzurri" scored a strong last series of 58 points and clinched a slender victory by 232-230.   Compound Men Team – Semi-finals Both the French and the Americans achieved 237 points twice in a row to qualify for the gold medal match on Sunday! The indoor team world champions Braden GELLENTHIEN and Reo WILDE, together with Dave COUSINS, had to score as high at this level to get over the Italians. The World Cup winner 2009 and 2010 Sergio PAGNI and his teammates reached 233 in this match.   In the second semi-final France proved too strong for Venezuela. The European team took an early lead (59-57) after the first end and kept increasing this advantage (117-114, 177-172, 237-229). The No. 2 seed France will thus shoot against the No. 1 USA for gold on Sunday, while the No. 3 Venezuela will fight for bronze versus the No. 5 Italy.  Compound Women Team – 1/8 There were only three matches competed in this category in the first round. Lower seeded than their opponents the British ladies (10) took an early lead against the Venezuelans (7) that they kept until the end: 57-53, 114-111, 170-164, 226-221. In the other two matches, Russia (6) easily beat Iran (11), on a score of 232-222, while Australia (8) had also a comfortable victory over Belgium (9), by 229-218.   Compound Women Team – Quarterfinals Three teams crossed the 230-point barrier in this round. USA (1) was too strong for Australia (8), 231-223. India (5) got over Mexico (4) on the score of 231-228. The best score of the quarterfinal round, 232, went to the Russians. The No. 6 seeded team kept the lead for the whole match (59-56, 117-113, 174-172, 232-228) and kicked out No. 3, France.   In a tight encounter the Italians (2) clinched their semi-final ticket at the expense of the British (10). The 2nd seeded nation, however, appeared very inconsistent throughout the match. They scored 59 points in the first end (59-55) but were tied by their opponents (111-111) after shooting 52 in the second. The Italians then shot an amazing series of 60 (!), recovering the lead at 171-168. They finally added 56 points, but this was just enough to contain the 57 of the British contenders in the last end (227-225).   Compound Women Team – Semi-finals The top seeded team, made up of two recent indoor team world champions, Erika ANSCHUTZ and Christie COLIN, together with Jamie VAN NATTA, had an easy win 232-225 over the 5th seeded nation, India. For the gold medal on Sunday, team USA will meet Russia (6), led by the reigning world champion Albina LOGINOVA, who teams up with Natalia AVDEEVA and Polina NIKITINA in Shanghai.   However, the way was not easy for the team of Russia to get to the gold final… In their semi-final against Italy, they were tied after both the first end (57-57) and the third (168-168). They managed to win thanks to a 29-point ending (227-225).   The competition will continue on Saturday with all the recurve medal matches taking place on the River Boulevard in Pudong.   Stayed tuned at www.worldarchery.org!   World Archery Communication