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Host nation triumphs as Türkiye claim both individual compound titles

23 May 2026

Antalya, Türkiye

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Host nation Türkiye laid down another marker in its growing influence on the international stage as Hazal Burun and Emircan Haney became the new European compound champions at the 2026 European Outdoor Championships.

For Burun, who won bronze at the last edition in 2024, it was an especially significant moment.

The 21-year-old became the first Turkish woman to win the European compound title, following a line of recurve champions that includes Gulnaz Coskun, Yasemin Anagoz and three-time winner Natalia Nazaridze.

“I’m still so excited right now,” said Burun. “I fought until the very end. I’m so happy that I won. This is what I’ve been working toward, and we’ve been working toward it for a long time.”

“Becoming European Champion here in Antalya, that was part of my dream. I set it as my goal, worked towards it and achieved it.”

Burun led from the start against Denmark’s Tanja Gellenthien, but the experienced Dane fought back and capitalised on a pair of nines in the third and fourth ends to level the match heading into the final end.

Burun held her nerve to close out victory and secure her first major senior outdoor individual title.

For Haney, the reigning World Cup Final champion, expectations were perhaps even higher in his match against 24-year-old Przemyslaw Konecki, a member of the Polish team that won a surprise gold medal at the Berlin 2023 Hyundai World Archery Championships.

The pair were level in every end and finished tied at 147-147, forcing a shoot-off.

A visibly nervous Haney appeared to flinch on the line but still managed to squeeze his arrow into the 10-ring. Konecki could only produce a nine, leaving the Turkish archer to celebrate gold on home soil.

Haney became the first Turkish man since Yakup Yıldız in 2021 to win the European compound title. He also secured bronze with the men’s team.

Burun and Haney narrowly missed out on another medal together, losing the compound mixed team bronze medal match to Denmark’s Tanja Gellenthien and Mathias Fullerton.

Mike Schloesser claimed bronze in the men’s event after defeating Germany’s Simon Moritz, while reigning champion Ella Gibson of Great Britain secured women’s bronze against Denmark’s Sofie Louise Dam Marcussen.

Competition concludes on Sunday with the recurve finals.

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