Top 5: Best photos from the World Cup’s grand return to Shanghai

The last time an international archery event had taken place in China? Back in 2019. Then the pandemic hit – and travel stopped. But last week, four years on, we were finally back in Shanghai for the second stage of this year’s Hyundai Archery World Cup.

Against the grand backdrop of the Pudong skyline and across from The Bund, which famously looks very much like the British city of Liverpool, finals in China felt fresh and new. The results – not so much, back to some serious Korean dominance in the recurve competition, broken only by the man of the hour, Marcus D’Almeida, while the compounds look threatening, too.

(Nothing to do with having Reo Wilde behind them, surely?)

Here are World Archery photographer Dean Alberga’s five favourite photos from Shanghai.

5. Knowledge transfer

It’s great to see one of archery’s five-time Olympians, Naomi Folkard, back on the field… now as a coach. With her resume and long international experience doing work behind the shooting line, is it any wonder that Britain’s young archers are delivering unprecedented results on it?

Good to see she is giving back.

4. Déjà vu

It was good to be back in Shanghai. It’s an epic view of an epic skyline – and one of archery’s most imposing finals arenas.

3. Jack of all trades

A former compound world number one, Nicky Hunt took a shot at recurve to make a run to try and make it to the Olympic Games. After doing some commentary for World Archery’s international feed, the trained physio has now joined Archery GB’s coaching staff (alongside Folkard).

Looks like football – soccer – could be her next thing.

2. Look serious

Archery’s most successful team had plenty of opportunities to practice its repertoire of on-podium celebrations in Shanghai, the Korean squad’s first event of a busy year.

Kang Chae Young could not keep a straight face when imitating teammate Lee Woo Seok when they stepped up to receive their gold medal in the recurve mixed team event.

1. Destined for greatness?

Nearly 10 years ago in 2014, if you’d asked most of us who’d be the next big star in archery, Marcus D’Almeida would likely have been the response.

He was young then, with the pressure of a home Olympics weighing on his shoulders.

So perhaps it’s taken a little longer – but Marcus is well on his way to becoming a force in the sport. He wants to win it all. More than once. You can see it in his eyes.

See the full photo albums from Shanghai online.