Sara Lopez wins eighth World Cup crown in Hermosillo

Sara Lopez clinched an incredible eighth Hyundai Archery World Cup title with victory in Hermosillo, Mexico. 

Beating Denmark’s Tanja Gellenthien by a single point in the final, the Colombian star made it six overall wins in a row and continued her total dominance of the compound women’s category. 

“I am in shock,” said Lopez. “My goal was to keep focus on my shots, to do my best and I’ve done it. The Mexican crowd helped me keep my spirits and win this title.”

Lopez has been consistent this season while saving her best for the big dance. 

Hyundai Archery World Cup silver medals in Antalya and Medellin, paired with fourth place in Paris, left her with room to improve in the Final and she did exactly that.

Local favourite Dafne Quintero claimed bronze against Korea’s Cho Su A after losing to Gellenthien in the semifinals.

Lopez picked her moment to pull clear of India’s Jyothi Surekha Vennam in the quarterfinal and a brilliant second end was enough to shake off in-form Korean Cho in the semis. 

Both of those archers have a much higher match win percentage than Lopez (74%) this season – Vennam with 81% and Cho with 80% – but it was the Colombian who produced when it mattered.

Meeting for the eighth time internationally, Lopez will have been well aware of the threat posed by Gellenthien, making her sixth appearance in the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final. 

In fact, Gellenthien claimed victory when they last met at the fourth stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup less than a month ago in Paris, prevailing 148-145. 

Doubts must have crept into Lopez’s mind, therefore, when the Danish archer carried an 88-86 lead into the fourth end. 

The 28-year-old produced 28 and 29 in the last two ends, with Gellenthien scoring 27 on both occasions, to clinch victory.

Competition continues in Hermosillo with the compound men’s finals later in the evening.

Final ranking: Compound women

1.  Sara Lopez, Colombia
2.  Tanja Gellenthien, Denmark
3.  Dafne Quintero, Mexico
4. Cho Su A, Korea
5.  Aditi Gopichand Swami, India
6.  Ella Gibson, Great Britain
7.  Jyothi Surekha Vennam, India
8.  Liko Arreola, USA