D’Almeida takes emotional top seed on mother’s birthday in Türkiye
Marcus D’Almeida followed up his recent South American Championships triumph with a pole position in the recurve men’s category at the third stage of the 2025 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Antalya, Türkiye.
The Brazilian scored 589 out of a possible 660 in the shortened 60-arrow qualification round, hitting the 11-ring 18 times. The updated format – including the new 11-ring – is being trialled this week in Türkiye as part of a series of changes to archery’s premier international circuit.
It was even more special on a personal level for D’Almeida, who topped the field on his mother’s birthday. The usually stoic archer showed a little bit of emotion after the day’s action.
“It’s a good start,” said the Hermosillo 2023 World Cup Final champion. ”Today’s a special day for me. It’s my mother’s birthday and so it’s a little bit for her.”
“I’m staying so far away from home a lot of the time, and that’s a little gift for you, mum.”
D’Almeida arrived in Antalya fresh off a successful title defence at the South American Championships in Medellin. While continental or regional results don’t always reflect the global landscape, his qualification score in Türkiye – especially under tough conditions – sent a clear message.
He edged Korea’s Kim Woojin by just a single point (589 to 588), suggesting the world number three may be hitting his stride outdoors after third-round exits at both Central Florida and Shanghai, the first two stages of the season.
But for Woojin, currently ranked number one and already qualified for the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Nanjing after winning Shanghai, second seed isn’t much of a setback.
Like everyone else at the Antalya Centennial Archery Centre, Woojin had to shoot 60 arrows under intense heat – but even without the added motivation of qualifying for Nanjing, he still managed to rise above the recurve men’s field… all but D’Almeida.
His total of 588 was just one point short of the top seed, but the difference lay in the 11s: Woojin landed 13 to D’Almeida’s 18. That proved decisive – and the reigning World Cup Champion admitted the new scoring format made things more demanding.
“I felt like I had to focus more because the rules changed,” said Woojin. “I think maybe everyone will take care of the 11 score, because 11 is literally higher than 10, right?”
“So I cared about the 11 today as well and had to be more focused. I’ve felt more tired than before [in previous qualification rounds].”
The absence of Woojin’s compatriots in the top five was one of the day’s biggest surprises, as Seo Mingi, Lee Woo Seok and Kim Je Deok were all unable to replicate their strong form from Shanghai.
There were no such issues in the recurve women’s event. Lim Sihyeon (584), Kang Chaeyoung Kan (579) and An San (572) completed a dominant Korean one-two-three in qualification. Shanghai gold medallist Lee Gahyun ended the day seeded ninth.
World Cup action returns tomorrow in Antalya with compound and recurve team eliminations.
Top seeds: Antalya 2025
Full results on the event page.
Recurve men
- Marcus D’Almeida, Brazil - 589 (18 11s)
- Kim Woojin, Korea – 588 (13 11s)
- Florian Unruh, Germany – 586 (11 11s)
Fifteen archers shot 550+. Top-64 cut at 542.
Recurve women
- Lim Sihyeon, Korea – 584 (13 11s)
- Kang Chaeyoung, Korea – 579 (10 11s)
- An San, Korea – 572 (12 11s)
Ten archers shot 560+. Top-64 cut at 525.
