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Zhu Jingyi proves to be the best once again and wins second World Cup at Antalya 2026

14 June 2026

Antalya, Türkiye

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Zhu Jingyi doing the peace sign with coach Kwon Yonghak smiling next to her at Antalya 2026.

Zhu Jingyi continued her meteoric rise as she beat two Olympic medallists en route to her second recurve women individual World Cup gold of the year at Antalya - stage three of the 2026 World Cup.

Merely hours after trouncing dear friend and Tokyo 2020 champion An San 6-0 in the semifinal - shooting 29, 29 and 29 - Jingyi then battled past one of Mexico's Paris 2024 women's team bronze medallists Ana Paula Vazquez Flores 7-3 to register her sixth international gold medal, one of which was the individual title in Puebla [stage one] in April.

Let's not forget that the young Jingyi - born and raised in Shanghai - is confirmed to lead China at the upcoming 20th Asian Games, and today's victory further cemented her status as arguably the main favourite for Aichi-Nagoya - although reigning World champion Kang Chaeyoung will certainly give her a challenge should they meet.

“I'm very happy because I was very relaxed during this match,” she said after concluding proceedings against Vazquez Flores with three 10s in the final end. “No matter what difficulties I encountered, I was able to handle them well, which will allow me to perform even better in future matches.”

“There wasn't exactly a problem, because I felt I couldn't stop my opponent from shooting well, so I could only try my best, do my best and enjoy the match.”

Those answers may not be the most expressive from a teenager who has just won something that all other archers regardless of age would dream of achieving.

India's Dhiraj Bommadevara, for instance - a 24-year-old athlete - couldn't stop crying following his successful mission in the recurve men individual final against Lee Woo Seok and needed a couple of moments to gather himself before conducting his post-match interview.

Jingyi, remarkably, however, has been here numerous times already despite being just 19, and her self-confidence is a sight to behold for any aspiring archer, both when she is shooting and before she steps onto the stage.

Zhu Jingyi aiming in the recurve women individual final at Antalya 2026.

There is a likeable personality to her as well, giving moments such as waving on the fans at Gloria Sports Arena to clap and cheer louder when her name was read out before the semifinals began.

The Gwangju 2025 runner-up also looks to have never had a better relationship with China recurve women head coach Kwon Yonghak, who jokingly pressed a small pig teddy bear against her face after she defeated An San.

“I think it's about team honour,” she responded when asked why 2026 is turning out to be her year in international archery. “Everyone, individually and otherwise, put in a lot of effort, so I'm very grateful to our coach, who has worked incredibly hard, and the leadership, who also consistently encouraged us.”

“All the honours we've achieved are thanks to them.”

A humble person and competitor she may be, but whether Jingyi realises it or not, her performances make her an honour for China's coaches and teammates to work with and, above all else, an honour for the country to have competing around the world.

To be a highly successful archer as well as a bubbly personality makes her a fantastic ambassador for the sport in China, and you get the feeling that even though she has achieved so much, so soon, there is still somehow more to come from her.

Could that be Asian Games gold?

At this stage, it's very possible, all she needs to do is keep up the insane consistency - the key to the pandora's box of elite archery.

Gold as well in Japan though really could catapult her into mainstream stardom.

As Antalya was the penultimate stage, we will see the world's best archers, including Jingyi, assemble one last time in Madrid for the international circuit finale next month before the World Cup Final in Saltillo in September.