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It was a perhaps unexpected medal for the 26-year-old Hideki KIKUCHI, the 33 seed, who’s climbed team and mixed team podiums internationally in the past – but never won an individual event.
Matched-up against France’s Pierre PLIHON, an even greater underdog, KIKUCHI was consistent in waning light on the banks of Shanghai’s Huang Pu river. His opponent was wilder: he landed an arrow in the five during the second set and never recovered.
PLIHON made his international debut at Shanghai this year but was disappointed with silver.
“I was so nervous my legs were shaking,” said the French archer. “I couldn’t shoot well in these conditions.”
After being so steady during eliminations, PLIHON realised how massive his achievement was: “To win the silver medal in my first World Cup is not bad. After all, I only lost a match!”
Dutch Olympian Rick VAN DER VEN won the bronze medal. It was his major outdoor individual final since the Olympics, where he finished fourth.
See results from the first 2014 Archery World Cup stage in Shanghai.
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