Guatemala makes history as India scoops double bronze

A magical run to the final of the compound men team guaranteed Guatemala a first-ever Hyundai Archery World Cup medal as India claimed a pair of bronzes in Medellin, Colombia.

The team of Julio Barillas, Jose Marcelo Del Cid and Pedro Salazar beat top seed USA and then host nation Colombia to reach Saturday’s final where Guatemala will take on Mexico.

“It was a bit of a surprise, but we have already had good cups, shooting very well and getting very close, so it was time for this team to have a final,” said Barillas, who was part of the compound mixed team that finished fourth in Guatemala in 2021, the previous best result.

“In the final we’ll do our best and trust that things will work out.”

Barillas called on this result to be the launchpad for more success for Guatemala, who edged out France before shocking the top seeds in the quarterfinal in a tiebreak.

That set up a semifinal against Colombia, which also went down to the wire.

In the final, Guatemala will take on Mexico, who got the better of Great Britain and then Denmark before edging India in an epic battle in the semifinal.

Indian trio Ojas Pravin Deotale, Prathamesh Samadhan Jawkar and Abhishek Verma bounced back from that disappointment to take bronze over the host nation.

And it was a similar story in the compound women team, where India’s Parneet Kaur, Aditi Gopichand Swami and Jyothi Surekha Vennam responded to a tiebreak defeat in the semifinal to take bronze.

Top seed India was beaten by the USA team of Liko Arreola, Olivia Dean and Alexis Ruiz.

After that disappointment, India clinched bronze in dramatic circumstances, Vennam sealing it in the tiebreak against Mexico.

“I just wanted to shoot my best and I just focused on my shooting process, rather than thinking about the outcome of the arrow,” she said. “I’m happy that I could do it.” 

The Mexicans had lost in the semifinal to the host trio of Juliana Gallego Lopez, Sara Lopez and Alejandra Usquiano.

Colombia will take on the USA in the final with Sara Lopez desperate to impress at home.

“My goal, and I know my teammates’ goal too, is for our parents to see us in the finals, our families,” she said. “That for us is payment enough.”

“Obviously, we want the gold, but we’re going to always do things calmly and quietly, with our minds and feet on the ground, and hoping for the best.”

Competition continues in Medellin with the recurve qualifying this afternoon.

Team results: Medellin 2023

Results as of Wednesday 14 June. The gold medal matches are scheduled for Saturday 17 June. 

Compound men

• Gold medal match: Guatemala versus Mexico
• Bronze medal match: India 236 - 228 Colombia

Compound women

• Gold medal match: USA versus Colombia
• Bronze medal match: India 232 (29+) - 232 (29) Mexico