Marcus bests Korean men over 72-arrow qualifying in Yecheon

Reigning Hyundai Archery World Cup Champion Marcus D’Almeida shot 691 points for the 72-arrow 70-metre qualifying round to seed top in the recurve men’s event at the second stage of the international tour this afternoon in Yecheon, Korea.

This field, used for the host nation’s domestic selections in 2024, was kinder to the visitor.

“I’m happy. I felt very good today. The wind changed a lot so I focused on my body,” said the current world number one from Brazil. “Sometimes the wind will help you. Today, it did.”

Marcus’ face was blank for his last six arrows, a 58, and he shrugged as he walked back to the tents from the shooting line.

He was the only recurve man to top 690. Second seed Kim Woojin (689) dropped one point under after leading at the halfway mark. Mexico’s Matias Grande also had a stint at the top of the leaderboard but landed third, one point behind Woojin, on 688.

Marcus shot the Pan American Championships in Medellin at the start of April but skipped the season opener in Shanghai later last month.

He begins his defence of the circuit trophy with a field-leading qualification.

“I need to train and push myself to the top,” said Marcus. “Last year’s World Cup was last year, not this year.”

Shanghai winner Andres Temiño qualified 10th, tied with Italian newcomer Matteo Borsani, India’s Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kim Je Deok – who is from Yecheon (and whose local high school boasts former World Cup Champion Yun Ok Hee as its coach) – on 678 points.

A career qualifying for Uzbekistan’s Amirkhon Sadikov, up in fourth with 682.

It was a disappointing day, however, for Brady Ellison (672 – 22nd), Thomas Chirault (669 – 32nd) and Takaharu Furukawa (658 – 58th).

And what about Mete Gazoz?

Just over a week after winning the European Championships and becoming the first archer in history to hold that title, the world title and the Olympic title at the same time, he posts a distinctly average (for him) 670-point qualifying round to seed 28th.

The Mete results rollercoaster keeps rolling.

Asian Games Champion Otgonbold Baatarkhuyag did make the top-64 cut, qualifying 51st after shooting 662 points.

Korea seeded top in all three recurve team events.

Woojin, Je Deok and Lee Woo Seok were upset by India in the final at stage one in Shanghai. It’s little consolation for that result, but the Korean trio did combine for 19 points more than their Indian counterparts, who qualified second, this afternoon.

Competition in Yecheon continues with recurve team eliminations on Thursday morning, followed by individual matchplay in the afternoon.

Top seeds: Yecheon 2024

Full results on the event page.

Recurve men

1. Marcus D’Almeida, Brazil – 691
2. Kim Woojin, Korea – 689
3. Matias Grande, Mexico – 688

Thirty archers shot 670+. The top-64 cut was 656 points.