World Archery Youth Championships – Quotes of the Individual Finals

Recurve Junior Men   Rick VAN DER VEN (NED) – Silver medal “My performance here was very good. It’s my first World Championships and I came in 2nd. I think it’s good. It’s always nice to shoot against a very good country. I was paying attention to what my opponent was doing, as I always do, but not too much, because I was concentrating more on what I was doing.”   Recurve Junior Women   Marion BARDARY (FRA) – 4th “I was a little bit nervous. It was my first final at such a level. My first arrow was bad, but it was more of a technical mistake than a result of my nervousness. I was not expecting 4th place at all. My goal was to shoot better than last year in Antalya, where I was 46th, so I did it! I’m 18 now and I will try to do my best in the senior field in the next years.”  Compound Junior Men   Cody THOMPSON (USA) – Gold medal “It’s definitely been a game of nerves. I guess it’s better to shoot first, but it doesn’t actually make a big difference. This whole week has been awesome. The highlight for me was to win and be there competing with people from all over the world.”   Jean PIZARRO (PUR) – Silver medal “It’s an incredible experience to have been in a World Championships final. I will go on training because there is a lot more to do. This will be good for international experience. I was hoping to be in the final, but it was a kind of surprise to actually make it. It went really well for me here. I’m very proud of what I did for Puerto Rico. I want to thank my coach.”   Compound Junior Women   Inge VAN CASPEL (NED) – Gold medal “I started archery three years ago and it’s my first year shooting in international competitions. It’s great! I’m just realising what I’ve accomplished. It’s more than I expected, since my goal was to make the top 5. Being number one is pretty cool! I was very nervous and also very excited. Second place would have been good anyway, but it means you lose a match. It’s much better for your feelings to win the gold.”   On her lucky charm “I’ve got bracelets for good-luck and they worked. My teammates gave them to me when I turned 18 on the 14th of July.”   Svetlana CHERKASHNEVA (RUS) – Bronze medal “I was a little nervous, but I wasn’t scared playing against the defending champion. I have already won against her. I’m going to celebrate this medal when I go back to Russia.”   Kendal NICELY (USA) – Defending champion, 4th “I felt good and was not nervous. I’m not upset, 113 is not too bad. Svetlana deserved it. The level has definitely gotten better. I have to fight harder every time. I’ve been having a few bad tournaments this year, so I was going to be satisfied with whatever I got here.”   Recurve Cadet Men   KIM Joo Wan (KOR) – Gold medal “Playing the final against a teammate feels like practicing. The tension and nervousness are lower than when I shoot against archers from other countries.”   Recurve Cadet Women   Deepika KUMARI (IND) – Gold medal “I am very happy. I was a little bit nervous today. It was my first World Championships and overall I had very good scores. I liked it here; the organisation of the competition was very good.”   Sayana TSYREMPILOVA (RUS) – Silver medal “I’m not sad but I’m not happy either. I was too nervous today.”   Compound Cadet Men   Alexander SAHI (USA) – Gold medal “It’s amazing. It’s my first World Championships and I won! I can’t put it into words... I hope to keep going like this and try to make the next world team.”   On how he prepared mentally “My coach Guy KRUEGER helped me. He taught me a breathing technique to help me relax. Also, I visualize perfect shots. I know that if I am calm I can do my 10s. I was trying to shoot my arrows and focus on what I was doing. I heard through the speaker what Jaime van BARBIERI was doing, but I tried not to pay too much attention to it.”   Mario CARDOSO (MEX) – Bronze medal “I was REALLY nervous today. I was holding my bow and my arms were shaking. I was hoping to start well and did so, with 10-10-10 in the first end. It gave me confidence. Things went really well for Mexico in these world championships.”  Compound Cadet Women   Paige PEARCE (USA) – Gold medal “It was awesome! The shots went well, there was no wind. Overall it was a lot of fun. I was really calm, which surprised me. I knew I was close to breaking the world record. I’ve broken it before in a round robin so it didn’t count. It was in the back of my mind today. I’m really proud, I was 6th last year and I came here hoping to win the gold medal. It hasn’t hit me yet that I did it!”   On how she started archery “My whole family shoots. My brother and I both started when we were 18 months old, shooting with plastic bows and arrows. Actually, my parents do 3D archery and took me with them when I was 9 days old. So I’ve really been in archery all my life!”   Stephanie Sarai SALINAS (MEX) – Silver medal “I’m happy with my performance. I would have had to shoot a little better to win gold, but I’m satisfied. My arm was bothering me a little, I couldn’t push very well, but I won’t use it as an excuse for not winning today. I’m satisfied with silver.”   Clara NIETO TALADRIZ (ESP) – Bronze medal “I shot very well in the beginning and was very concentrated. Then I started getting a little nervous. I’m really happy with this medal! We’re going to celebrate it, of course, here and in Spain. My brother is also here competing.”   Vanahé ANTILLE FITA Communication